[Applause] thank you all for being here I guess a
thank you all for being here I guess a
thank you all for being here I guess a little bit about me I’m not going to say
little bit about me I’m not going to say
little bit about me I’m not going to say a lot so I’m a documentary filmmaker but
a lot so I’m a documentary filmmaker but
a lot so I’m a documentary filmmaker but when I first started I was a commercial
when I first started I was a commercial
when I first started I was a commercial director and a long time ago when I
director and a long time ago when I
director and a long time ago when I first started I was young I used to make
first started I was young I used to make
first started I was young I used to make these really creative commercials when
these really creative commercials when
these really creative commercials when I’m going to Pittsburgh and I was very
I’m going to Pittsburgh and I was very
I’m going to Pittsburgh and I was very sighted Grosjean like like yeah take
sighted Grosjean like like yeah take
sighted Grosjean like like yeah take over the world and everything and when I
over the world and everything and when I
over the world and everything and when I said make these commercials
said make these commercials
said make these commercials I will win a lot of awards and me and my
I will win a lot of awards and me and my
I will win a lot of awards and me and my producer at the time I’m very excited
producer at the time I’m very excited
producer at the time I’m very excited house you know you think about awards
house you know you think about awards
house you know you think about awards and get attention
and get attention
and get attention but the work would never come so um so
but the work would never come so um so
but the work would never come so um so we thought about offer up a couple of
we thought about offer up a couple of
we thought about offer up a couple of years with pun rewards by every other
years with pun rewards by every other
years with pun rewards by every other year and we kept eclectic wouldn’t the
year and we kept eclectic wouldn’t the
year and we kept eclectic wouldn’t the awards or think the word come in
awards or think the word come in
awards or think the word come in everything so luckily I had a frequent
everything so luckily I had a frequent
everything so luckily I had a frequent worked at an ad agency and he told me
worked at an ad agency and he told me
worked at an ad agency and he told me when we’re out for drinks one day so
when we’re out for drinks one day so
when we’re out for drinks one day so well
well
well yeah there’s two things against you one
yeah there’s two things against you one
yeah there’s two things against you one you know youngest director at level four
you know youngest director at level four
you know youngest director at level four and the money school figure anybody
and the money school figure anybody
and the money school figure anybody Taeyang oh yeah – you’re blind ah so
Taeyang oh yeah – you’re blind ah so
Taeyang oh yeah – you’re blind ah so that’s it okay forget the city come out
that’s it okay forget the city come out
that’s it okay forget the city come out of here
of here
of here but um but I still stuck around
but um but I still stuck around
but um but I still stuck around Pittsburgh just because of certain
Pittsburgh just because of certain
Pittsburgh just because of certain things that happen at the time I was
things that happen at the time I was
things that happen at the time I was fortunate to work on the documentary
fortunate to work on the documentary
fortunate to work on the documentary about effect of AIDS on african-american
about effect of AIDS on african-american
about effect of AIDS on african-american community and also – when I started I
community and also – when I started I
community and also – when I started I was documenting the East Liberty area
was documenting the East Liberty area
was documenting the East Liberty area for the demolition of during the
for the demolition of during the
for the demolition of during the redevelopment of the area so during that
redevelopment of the area so during that
redevelopment of the area so during that time I was still about frustrations you
time I was still about frustrations you
time I was still about frustrations you know it’s very angry wouldn’t know how
know it’s very angry wouldn’t know how
know it’s very angry wouldn’t know how to deal with it um and also to is I’ve
to deal with it um and also to is I’ve
to deal with it um and also to is I’ve never had to deal with racism in a
never had to deal with racism in a
never had to deal with racism in a certain kind of way and because I grew
certain kind of way and because I grew
certain kind of way and because I grew up in North Carolina and I grew up on
up in North Carolina and I grew up on
up in North Carolina and I grew up on small-town home time adjusting how much
small-town home time adjusting how much
small-town home time adjusting how much that means anything so and anything for
that means anything so and anything for
that means anything so and anything for me growing up the racism was in your
me growing up the racism was in your
me growing up the racism was in your face up here Pittsburgh RC like in
face up here Pittsburgh RC like in
face up here Pittsburgh RC like in certain communities where you have
certain communities where you have
certain communities where you have people in a Muslim community selling the
people in a Muslim community selling the
people in a Muslim community selling the final call newspaper back home you had
final call newspaper back home you had
final call newspaper back home you had like the Klansmen outside of the Kmart
like the Klansmen outside of the Kmart
like the Klansmen outside of the Kmart selling a rebel yell so at least for me
selling a rebel yell so at least for me
selling a rebel yell so at least for me I knew like how to deal with racism it
I knew like how to deal with racism it
I knew like how to deal with racism it was in my face here I realized that it
was in my face here I realized that it
was in my face here I realized that it went a lot more deeper it was a lot more
went a lot more deeper it was a lot more
went a lot more deeper it was a lot more scarier for me in ways so going back
scarier for me in ways so going back
scarier for me in ways so going back when I started documenting um an East
when I started documenting um an East
when I started documenting um an East Liberty area during like the mid-2000s
Liberty area during like the mid-2000s
Liberty area during like the mid-2000s Liberty area at that time was a pretty
Liberty area at that time was a pretty
Liberty area at that time was a pretty much predominately black shopping area
much predominately black shopping area
much predominately black shopping area and I remember when I stuck him in the
and I remember when I stuck him in the
and I remember when I stuck him in the event I saw like 100 white people like
event I saw like 100 white people like
event I saw like 100 white people like what was going on and has it was
what was going on and has it was
what was going on and has it was documenting during that day what was
documenting during that day what was
documenting during that day what was going on was that developers are having
going on was that developers are having
going on was that developers are having a celebration of the tearing out the
a celebration of the tearing out the
a celebration of the tearing out the high-rises and doing a redevelopment and
high-rises and doing a redevelopment and
high-rises and doing a redevelopment and the way that it did the celebration if
the way that it did the celebration if
the way that it did the celebration if they would have done it a different way
they would have done it a different way
they would have done it a different way I don’t think my work Robert may not
I don’t think my work Robert may not
I don’t think my work Robert may not even exist but what what they did at a
even exist but what what they did at a
even exist but what what they did at a time was that they had a group of
time was that they had a group of
time was that they had a group of students make a gigantic slingshot to
students make a gigantic slingshot to
students make a gigantic slingshot to shoot up at the high-rises and I’m
shoot up at the high-rises and I’m
shoot up at the high-rises and I’m thinking you know if you look if you
thinking you know if you look if you
thinking you know if you look if you didn’t live in a community and use there
didn’t live in a community and use there
didn’t live in a community and use there for the event it’s pretty cool looking
for the event it’s pretty cool looking
for the event it’s pretty cool looking you know John getting a sling shot put
you know John getting a sling shot put
you know John getting a sling shot put some paintballs in it shoot up at the
some paintballs in it shoot up at the
some paintballs in it shoot up at the building splatter but if you wanted the
building splatter but if you wanted the
building splatter but if you wanted the people who lived in those houses for
people who lived in those houses for
people who lived in those houses for like 20 years and so I just doing it to
like 20 years and so I just doing it to
like 20 years and so I just doing it to your home what would you think and so
your home what would you think and so
your home what would you think and so during that date amid like a lot of the
during that date amid like a lot of the
during that date amid like a lot of the residents who were displaced at the time
residents who were displaced at the time
residents who were displaced at the time because there were 10 around the
because there were 10 around the
because there were 10 around the buildings and they had two promises of
buildings and they had two promises of
buildings and they had two promises of being able to move back after
being able to move back after
being able to move back after everything’s done and a lot of them were
everything’s done and a lot of them were
everything’s done and a lot of them were angry and I used that had the
angry and I used that had the
angry and I used that had the opportunity to channel my own anger
opportunity to channel my own anger
opportunity to channel my own anger frustrations living in a city where I
frustrations living in a city where I
frustrations living in a city where I didn’t fit but also serve has a voice of
didn’t fit but also serve has a voice of
didn’t fit but also serve has a voice of people who feel like they didn’t have a
people who feel like they didn’t have a
people who feel like they didn’t have a voice so my documentary series called
voice so my documentary series called
voice so my documentary series called East of Liberty named after the East
East of Liberty named after the East
East of Liberty named after the East Liberty neighborhood where we film it
Liberty neighborhood where we film it
Liberty neighborhood where we film it talks about tough issues we talk about
talks about tough issues we talk about
talks about tough issues we talk about the issue of justification redevelopment
the issue of justification redevelopment
the issue of justification redevelopment displacement this
displacement this
displacement this specially racism classism I’m going to
specially racism classism I’m going to
specially racism classism I’m going to show you in a couple of minutes as
show you in a couple of minutes as
show you in a couple of minutes as footage from what’s been happening
footage from what’s been happening
footage from what’s been happening recently in the last couple of weeks I
recently in the last couple of weeks I
recently in the last couple of weeks I was part of a group and action in which
was part of a group and action in which
was part of a group and action in which we had to like get the Earthmen the
we had to like get the Earthmen the
we had to like get the Earthmen the company Whole Foods to engage in a
company Whole Foods to engage in a
company Whole Foods to engage in a dialogue where was things happening of
dialogue where was things happening of
dialogue where was things happening of Whole Foods have plans to move from
Whole Foods have plans to move from
Whole Foods have plans to move from their current location to a couple of
their current location to a couple of
their current location to a couple of blocks over where a couple of hundred
blocks over where a couple of hundred
blocks over where a couple of hundred people were residents local residents
people were residents local residents
people were residents local residents were displaced for the move and and it’s
were displaced for the move and and it’s
were displaced for the move and and it’s just getting them to get engaged really
just getting them to get engaged really
just getting them to get engaged really understand what’s going on like these
understand what’s going on like these
understand what’s going on like these are people’s lives people being affected
are people’s lives people being affected
are people’s lives people being affected so I’m going to show you clips from that
so I’m going to show you clips from that
so I’m going to show you clips from that and also to our clips but to business
and also to our clips but to business
and also to our clips but to business owners and it’s really frustrating
owners and it’s really frustrating
owners and it’s really frustrating because we hear their stories this the
because we hear their stories this the
because we hear their stories this the things that’s happened to both of them
things that’s happened to both of them
things that’s happened to both of them is happening to the several others and
is happening to the several others and
is happening to the several others and when you talk we we talked about doing
when you talk we we talked about doing
when you talk we we talked about doing redevelopment Community Development this
redevelopment Community Development this
redevelopment Community Development this is not the way that you do it it’s all
is not the way that you do it it’s all
is not the way that you do it it’s all about bringing people to the table
about bringing people to the table
about bringing people to the table engaging in everybody making everybody
engaging in everybody making everybody
engaging in everybody making everybody feel like they have a place at the table
feel like they have a place at the table
feel like they have a place at the table but we do certain things a certain way
but we do certain things a certain way
but we do certain things a certain way you truly understand that the intentions
you truly understand that the intentions
you truly understand that the intentions are not good and it’s a shame and
are not good and it’s a shame and
are not good and it’s a shame and unfortunately it goes from the top down
unfortunately it goes from the top down
unfortunately it goes from the top down and as some of the things I feel like we
and as some of the things I feel like we
and as some of the things I feel like we have to address now but force in another
have to address now but force in another
have to address now but force in another 20 years and it all happened all over
20 years and it all happened all over
20 years and it all happened all over again because I certainly feel like a
again because I certainly feel like a
again because I certainly feel like a lot of the things that they’re building
lot of the things that they’re building
lot of the things that they’re building up like a lot of the housing around the
up like a lot of the housing around the
up like a lot of the housing around the city if people are not going to come and
city if people are not going to come and
city if people are not going to come and I feel like in the next several years it
I feel like in the next several years it
I feel like in the next several years it will all start to become this and come
will all start to become this and come
will all start to become this and come housing again but it’s important like I
housing again but it’s important like I
housing again but it’s important like I said before it’s a purpose to have this
said before it’s a purpose to have this
said before it’s a purpose to have this dialogue now what these are happening
dialogue now what these are happening
dialogue now what these are happening and I was shut up for a moment and show
and I was shut up for a moment and show
and I was shut up for a moment and show the clips thank you
I’ve been in Pittsburgh for 20 about 20
I’ve been in Pittsburgh for 20 about 20 years I’m from Jamaica but I grew up in
years I’m from Jamaica but I grew up in
years I’m from Jamaica but I grew up in Brooklyn New York
Brooklyn New York
Brooklyn New York and I’ve been in United States since I’m
and I’ve been in United States since I’m
and I’ve been in United States since I’m I was seven years old and as I was
I was seven years old and as I was
I was seven years old and as I was growing up and as I got in my 20s and
growing up and as I got in my 20s and
growing up and as I got in my 20s and you start like yes I’m an America I’m
you start like yes I’m an America I’m
you start like yes I’m an America I’m gonna I’m an immigrant and I want to be
gonna I’m an immigrant and I want to be
gonna I’m an immigrant and I want to be a part of what it means to be an
a part of what it means to be an
a part of what it means to be an immigrant so when I received the
immigrant so when I received the
immigrant so when I received the opportunity to run this business its
opportunity to run this business its
opportunity to run this business its restaurant I thought how wonderful this
restaurant I thought how wonderful this
restaurant I thought how wonderful this is my husband three children and you’re
is my husband three children and you’re
is my husband three children and you’re not exceptionally savvy I’m the first to
not exceptionally savvy I’m the first to
not exceptionally savvy I’m the first to graduate high school in my immediate
graduate high school in my immediate
graduate high school in my immediate family the first to graduate college in
family the first to graduate college in
family the first to graduate college in my immediate family and it felt like a
my immediate family and it felt like a
my immediate family and it felt like a good accomplishment but again you don’t
good accomplishment but again you don’t
good accomplishment but again you don’t know a whole lot so you’re learning as
know a whole lot so you’re learning as
know a whole lot so you’re learning as you go and as you’re learning you’re
you go and as you’re learning you’re
you go and as you’re learning you’re growing you’re trying to dream and grow
growing you’re trying to dream and grow
growing you’re trying to dream and grow and to see that someone who is in a
and to see that someone who is in a
and to see that someone who is in a position financial position to be able
position financial position to be able
position financial position to be able to aid you to get to certain levels in
to aid you to get to certain levels in
to aid you to get to certain levels in life to bring your family bring the
life to bring your family bring the
life to bring your family bring the community really wants to put their foot
community really wants to put their foot
community really wants to put their foot on your neck the restaurant I called a
on your neck the restaurant I called a
on your neck the restaurant I called a United Nation we had African Americans
United Nation we had African Americans
United Nation we had African Americans who supported us we have Caucasian we
who supported us we have Caucasian we
who supported us we have Caucasian we had in the intro everyone and I loved it
had in the intro everyone and I loved it
had in the intro everyone and I loved it because everyone came as soon as they
because everyone came as soon as they
because everyone came as soon as they came in we never knew them from a can of
came in we never knew them from a can of
came in we never knew them from a can of bean but instantaneously we were like
bean but instantaneously we were like
bean but instantaneously we were like family and my customers were so awesome
family and my customers were so awesome
family and my customers were so awesome we had a flood in 2015 in March that
we had a flood in 2015 in March that
we had a flood in 2015 in March that flood devastated the whole of downstairs
flood devastated the whole of downstairs
flood devastated the whole of downstairs where there is no bathroom at all how
where there is no bathroom at all how
where there is no bathroom at all how embarrassing it is for customer coming
embarrassing it is for customer coming
embarrassing it is for customer coming oh you know you can sit and eat but
oh you know you can sit and eat but
oh you know you can sit and eat but there’s no bathroom for you to use he’s
there’s no bathroom for you to use he’s
there’s no bathroom for you to use he’s not fixed a bathroom almost a year there
not fixed a bathroom almost a year there
not fixed a bathroom almost a year there is no bathroom for my customers to use
is no bathroom for my customers to use
is no bathroom for my customers to use at all but he wants 100 percent of the
at all but he wants 100 percent of the
at all but he wants 100 percent of the rent and then he wants to raise the rent
rent and then he wants to raise the rent
rent and then he wants to raise the rent by $500 more then he’s writing me some
by $500 more then he’s writing me some
by $500 more then he’s writing me some kind of men
kind of men
kind of men that oh well I’m going to raise the rent
that oh well I’m going to raise the rent
that oh well I’m going to raise the rent to 2,000 or so dollars or whatever can
to 2,000 or so dollars or whatever can
to 2,000 or so dollars or whatever can you handle that what about the bathroom
you handle that what about the bathroom
you handle that what about the bathroom you have not installed a bathroom my
you have not installed a bathroom my
you have not installed a bathroom my customers I had a customer she’s from
customers I had a customer she’s from
customers I had a customer she’s from Italy
Italy
Italy her family’s from Italy mom dad everyone
her family’s from Italy mom dad everyone
her family’s from Italy mom dad everyone is coming down to still you want to make
is coming down to still you want to make
is coming down to still you want to make a reservation I said ban we have no
a reservation I said ban we have no
a reservation I said ban we have no bathroom for you guys to use
bathroom for you guys to use
bathroom for you guys to use they came anyway sat there for 3-4 hours
they came anyway sat there for 3-4 hours
they came anyway sat there for 3-4 hours no bathroom
no bathroom
no bathroom I felt this small and I tell you I kid
I felt this small and I tell you I kid
I felt this small and I tell you I kid you not how should I say this I’m a
you not how should I say this I’m a
you not how should I say this I’m a lover of people even though we were
lover of people even though we were
lover of people even though we were there to serve food it was more than
there to serve food it was more than
there to serve food it was more than food it was love we were just so happy
food it was love we were just so happy
food it was love we were just so happy to see where we could have gone as a
to see where we could have gone as a
to see where we could have gone as a family as a business this man crushed
family as a business this man crushed
family as a business this man crushed our dreams so badly I felt when people
our dreams so badly I felt when people
our dreams so badly I felt when people to me I want to get out of Pittsburgh I
to me I want to get out of Pittsburgh I
to me I want to get out of Pittsburgh I don’t like Pittsburgh I’m like wondering
don’t like Pittsburgh I’m like wondering
don’t like Pittsburgh I’m like wondering why I’m gonna I could understand it and
why I’m gonna I could understand it and
why I’m gonna I could understand it and just from being in that place of
just from being in that place of
just from being in that place of business I understand why some people
business I understand why some people
business I understand why some people wanted to get away from Pittsburgh a lot
wanted to get away from Pittsburgh a lot
wanted to get away from Pittsburgh a lot of them got away for many years and some
of them got away for many years and some
of them got away for many years and some came back and you wonder why they came
came back and you wonder why they came
came back and you wonder why they came back a sense of family this is where
back a sense of family this is where
back a sense of family this is where their they were born and they want to
their they were born and they want to
their they were born and they want to see something happen in this location
see something happen in this location
see something happen in this location now
now
now it devastated us at first I told my
it devastated us at first I told my
it devastated us at first I told my husband said everything’s going to be
husband said everything’s going to be
husband said everything’s going to be all right but financially it is
all right but financially it is
all right but financially it is devastating right now to have car
devastating right now to have car
devastating right now to have car payments coming in you can’t pay this
payments coming in you can’t pay this
payments coming in you can’t pay this this is coming to camp
this is coming to camp
this is coming to camp everything is devastating and this man
everything is devastating and this man
everything is devastating and this man has so much money here it is he had some
has so much money here it is he had some
has so much money here it is he had some workers because he had to contract
workers because he had to contract
workers because he had to contract people he had some workers come in it’s
people he had some workers come in it’s
people he had some workers come in it’s a group of white guys and stuff like
a group of white guys and stuff like
a group of white guys and stuff like that and I tell you they tell me
that and I tell you they tell me
that and I tell you they tell me everything so you know what he told us
everything so you know what he told us
everything so you know what he told us to do this and this to you guys and we
to do this and this to you guys and we
to do this and this to you guys and we told him no we’re not gonna do that – he
told him no we’re not gonna do that – he
told him no we’re not gonna do that – he didn’t specifically say what but I knew
didn’t specifically say what but I knew
didn’t specifically say what but I knew it was no good
it was no good
it was no good and he said they said to him no we’re
and he said they said to him no we’re
and he said they said to him no we’re not going to do that to them they don’t
not going to do that to them they don’t
not going to do that to them they don’t deserve that now you put a camera in on
deserve that now you put a camera in on
deserve that now you put a camera in on the back of the window in my backyard
the back of the window in my backyard
the back of the window in my backyard room my kitchen goes but you can’t fix
room my kitchen goes but you can’t fix
room my kitchen goes but you can’t fix my bathroom I tell you
my bathroom I tell you
my bathroom I tell you I told him I said with you I said I’ve
I told him I said with you I said I’ve
I told him I said with you I said I’ve gotten a glimpse of racism what it means
gotten a glimpse of racism what it means
gotten a glimpse of racism what it means to be a slave to be enslaved however
to be a slave to be enslaved however
to be a slave to be enslaved however that one man will not change my love for
that one man will not change my love for
that one man will not change my love for Humanity a lot of things that are
Humanity a lot of things that are
Humanity a lot of things that are happening in Pittsburgh is not necessary
happening in Pittsburgh is not necessary
happening in Pittsburgh is not necessary it’s greed and if you really notice and
it’s greed and if you really notice and
it’s greed and if you really notice and you look there really is no viability
you look there really is no viability
you look there really is no viability going on right now if you look at it so
going on right now if you look at it so
going on right now if you look at it so we’re asking people to reach out and to
we’re asking people to reach out and to
we’re asking people to reach out and to say that it’s not acceptable to displace
say that it’s not acceptable to displace
say that it’s not acceptable to displace people that they really need to support
people that they really need to support
people that they really need to support housing at the site right now they’re
housing at the site right now they’re
housing at the site right now they’re planning luxury apartments which far out
planning luxury apartments which far out
planning luxury apartments which far out of the reach of these people who are
of the reach of these people who are
of the reach of these people who are being displaced so these we have stories
being displaced so these we have stories
being displaced so these we have stories here of the various folks that are
here of the various folks that are
here of the various folks that are losing their homes in some cases like
losing their homes in some cases like
losing their homes in some cases like with both ear Rivers who’s a veteran and
with both ear Rivers who’s a veteran and
with both ear Rivers who’s a veteran and with Mabel and Myrtle 76 and 79 they’re
with Mabel and Myrtle 76 and 79 they’re
with Mabel and Myrtle 76 and 79 they’re having to leave Pittsburgh so for these
having to leave Pittsburgh so for these
having to leave Pittsburgh so for these two women their families live right here
two women their families live right here
two women their families live right here in East Liberty both her her daughter is
in East Liberty both her her daughter is
in East Liberty both her her daughter is in very poor health and so she’s
in very poor health and so she’s
in very poor health and so she’s visiting her on a regular basis Myrtle
visiting her on a regular basis Myrtle
visiting her on a regular basis Myrtle herself was in very bad health and she
herself was in very bad health and she
herself was in very bad health and she really needs the support of her family
really needs the support of her family
really needs the support of her family she’s going to have to leave that now if
she’s going to have to leave that now if
she’s going to have to leave that now if Whole Foods would support building
Whole Foods would support building
Whole Foods would support building affordable housing at that site then she
affordable housing at that site then she
affordable housing at that site then she might be able to come back in a year so
might be able to come back in a year so
might be able to come back in a year so that she could be near her family but we
that she could be near her family but we
that she could be near her family but we disagree with your vision of East
disagree with your vision of East
disagree with your vision of East Liberty and we’re here today fighting
Liberty and we’re here today fighting
Liberty and we’re here today fighting against your vision of East Liberty and
against your vision of East Liberty and
against your vision of East Liberty and as you know from Whole Foods found out
as you know from Whole Foods found out
as you know from Whole Foods found out we’re going to win we are going to win
we’re going to win we are going to win
we’re going to win we are going to win [Music]
[Music]
[Music] thank you thank you everybody so my dad
thank you thank you everybody so my dad
thank you thank you everybody so my dad right there the guy standing right in
right there the guy standing right in
right there the guy standing right in front of the store he started jamel’s
front of the store he started jamel’s
front of the store he started jamel’s yeah so mr. Jamil and my mother Rashida
yeah so mr. Jamil and my mother Rashida
yeah so mr. Jamil and my mother Rashida Brooklyn’s 25 years ago they had a
Brooklyn’s 25 years ago they had a
Brooklyn’s 25 years ago they had a vision so they started out I don’t know
vision so they started out I don’t know
vision so they started out I don’t know if many of you know this but there used
if many of you know this but there used
if many of you know this but there used to be vendors all along Penn Avenue over
to be vendors all along Penn Avenue over
to be vendors all along Penn Avenue over here
here
here black vendors blacker brown vendors
black vendors blacker brown vendors
black vendors blacker brown vendors whose house or where’s all along Penn
whose house or where’s all along Penn
whose house or where’s all along Penn Avenue 25 years ago he started off there
Avenue 25 years ago he started off there
Avenue 25 years ago he started off there they raised seven kids in Wilkinsburg
they raised seven kids in Wilkinsburg
they raised seven kids in Wilkinsburg and they had a vision they had a vision
and they had a vision they had a vision
and they had a vision they had a vision to start a business they saw an
to start a business they saw an
to start a business they saw an opportunity open up whenever a copy shop
opportunity open up whenever a copy shop
opportunity open up whenever a copy shop closed down 25 years ago 25 years ago
closed down 25 years ago 25 years ago
closed down 25 years ago 25 years ago they didn’t have financing they didn’t
they didn’t have financing they didn’t
they didn’t have financing they didn’t have tax increment incremental financing
have tax increment incremental financing
have tax increment incremental financing or TIF financing or anything like that
or TIF financing or anything like that
or TIF financing or anything like that that these huge developers are getting
that these huge developers are getting
that these huge developers are getting they started out in that business with
they started out in that business with
they started out in that business with just the table literally the table that
just the table literally the table that
just the table literally the table that was on the street and they were able to
was on the street and they were able to
was on the street and they were able to grow this business after 25 years and
grow this business after 25 years and
grow this business after 25 years and raising seven children so I’m here to
raising seven children so I’m here to
raising seven children so I’m here to talk to you a little bit about his story
talk to you a little bit about his story
talk to you a little bit about his story in addition to his store there were a
in addition to his store there were a
in addition to his store there were a number of black and brown businesses
number of black and brown businesses
number of black and brown businesses have been moved out of East Liberty does
have been moved out of East Liberty does
have been moved out of East Liberty does anyone remember impressions the Jamaican
anyone remember impressions the Jamaican
anyone remember impressions the Jamaican restaurant she was pushed out her
restaurant she was pushed out her
restaurant she was pushed out her landlord they were harassing her for a
landlord they were harassing her for a
landlord they were harassing her for a number of months if not a year before
number of months if not a year before
number of months if not a year before she was pushed out of East Liberty the
she was pushed out of East Liberty the
she was pushed out of East Liberty the shadow lounge the shadow lounge was
shadow lounge the shadow lounge was
shadow lounge the shadow lounge was intrinsic part of this community most
intrinsic part of this community most
intrinsic part of this community most people don’t know this but the shell
people don’t know this but the shell
people don’t know this but the shell loans they were a catalyst to start a
loans they were a catalyst to start a
loans they were a catalyst to start a lot of this development to bring a lot
lot of this development to bring a lot
lot of this development to bring a lot of people into East Liberty and they
of people into East Liberty and they
of people into East Liberty and they were eventually pushed out of East
were eventually pushed out of East
were eventually pushed out of East Liberty okapi braiding salon they’re no
Liberty okapi braiding salon they’re no
Liberty okapi braiding salon they’re no longer here a laptop etc and I can go on
longer here a laptop etc and I can go on
longer here a laptop etc and I can go on on and on there’s so many black
on and on there’s so many black
on and on there’s so many black businesses that have been pushed out of
businesses that have been pushed out of
businesses that have been pushed out of these Liberty eventually there won’t be
these Liberty eventually there won’t be
these Liberty eventually there won’t be any black people in this neighborhood if
any black people in this neighborhood if
any black people in this neighborhood if this continues the same thing with the
this continues the same thing with the
this continues the same thing with the residents the residents are being pushed
residents the residents are being pushed
residents the residents are being pushed out the entire fabric of this
out the entire fabric of this
out the entire fabric of this neighborhood is changing and it’s
neighborhood is changing and it’s
neighborhood is changing and it’s disproportionately affecting the black
disproportionately affecting the black
disproportionately affecting the black and brown people that are here in this
and brown people that are here in this
and brown people that are here in this community so we have to keep this
community so we have to keep this
community so we have to keep this momentum up I’m here to say no more I’m
momentum up I’m here to say no more I’m
momentum up I’m here to say no more I’m here with everyone no more we must stop
here with everyone no more we must stop
here with everyone no more we must stop this just like we said about Whole Foods
this just like we said about Whole Foods
this just like we said about Whole Foods we must keep this momentum going they
we must keep this momentum going they
we must keep this momentum going they were able to back down because they’re
were able to back down because they’re
were able to back down because they’re so image conscious they didn’t want to
so image conscious they didn’t want to
so image conscious they didn’t want to have anything like that associated with
have anything like that associated with
have anything like that associated with their name we must keep this up all
their name we must keep this up all
their name we must keep this up all these organizations all these are
these organizations all these are
these organizations all these are developers that are coming in here they
developers that are coming in here they
developers that are coming in here they don’t want to have this associated with
don’t want to have this associated with
don’t want to have this associated with her name we keep that pressure up and
her name we keep that pressure up and
her name we keep that pressure up and then we’ll be able to win thank you
then we’ll be able to win thank you
then we’ll be able to win thank you thank you very much we have to stop
thank you very much we have to stop
thank you very much we have to stop being we have to be less selfish start
being we have to be less selfish start
being we have to be less selfish start to be more selfless we have to like get
to be more selfless we have to like get
to be more selfless we have to like get out and try to help each other this very
out and try to help each other this very
out and try to help each other this very word thing is going on and I feel like
word thing is going on and I feel like
word thing is going on and I feel like that’s a part of my job to tell their
that’s a part of my job to tell their
that’s a part of my job to tell their stories to make sure that their stories
stories to make sure that their stories
stories to make sure that their stories get out there in the world and that
get out there in the world and that
get out there in the world and that they’re able to get help and to really
they’re able to get help and to really
they’re able to get help and to really expose certain things um it’s like the
expose certain things um it’s like the
expose certain things um it’s like the same guy who did this to them he also
same guy who did this to them he also
same guy who did this to them he also did it to another black business where
did it to another black business where
did it to another black business where they were only able to get $80,000 and
they were only able to get $80,000 and
they were only able to get $80,000 and support to help their business grow they
support to help their business grow they
support to help their business grow they had to file for bankruptcy and close a
had to file for bankruptcy and close a
had to file for bankruptcy and close a white person comes in right after them
white person comes in right after them
white person comes in right after them two years later exact same business type
two years later exact same business type
two years later exact same business type he just half a million dollars of
he just half a million dollars of
he just half a million dollars of support and we just have to all have to
support and we just have to all have to
support and we just have to all have to do better and yeah we just we just all
do better and yeah we just we just all
do better and yeah we just we just all have to do better thank you very time
have to do better thank you very time
have to do better thank you very time [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment