“I am determined to change the whole energy of that corner, so that when people pass through it they see beauty instead of always associating it with tragedy.” – Lou Berry, Lifetime resident and community activist
The intersection of Baldridge and Jones Avenues has seen a long history of violence and trauma. In this vignette, we try to re-envision the site as one for healing and safety. A vacant lot near Fa’s market is transformed into a healing site with a memorial, public programming, and landscape design. The solemnity and weight of the history is captured in a story wall. Spaces are provided for children and youth to gather, play, and learn. A meditation theatre can hold reading events and become outdoor classrooms for school children. A community garden also provides additional space for learning and healing through engagement with nature. Finally, we hope to include space for cultivating the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) tree, a native plant with roots in the indigenous history of Appalachia, as well as an important food source for enslaved Africans as they made their way north.
