BACKGROUND

In May 2007, Hope Community, Inc. premiered a 30-minute documentary, "East Harlem Focus: A Community Facing Transition," at its Carlos Rios Senior Residence. Produced by the agency's community programs department, the documentary is the culmination of a 12-month, community-based research project that documented a neighborhood threatened by rapid and transformative change.

The public screening of the documentary was followed by a public discussion on gentrification and displacement in East Harlem. Among the local partner agencies speaking were Lakeview Tenants Association, Community Voices Heard, and Esperanza Del Barrio.

Hope staff then coordinated a videotaped panel discussion held at Manhattan Neighborhood Network studios that aired in October 2007.

In addition to the video, the Hope staff produced an accompanying published report available online. Click here to read the final report (PDF).

MORE ON THE PROJECT

What is going on in East Harlem today? What changes are occurring, and how are they affecting you? What will happen to communities that have made East Harlem their home for generations? What will happen to new-comers to the area? What do you think should be happening in East Harlem today? What sorts of changes would you like to see? What sort of future would you like to see for your neighborhood?

These are the questions that Hope asked during the summer of 2006 as we went out in the community, asking our neighbors about their hopes and fears, their memories, and their dreams for El Barrio.

Hope's research team interviewed with over 30 neighborhood residents to capture their observations, opinions, and feelings about East Harlem. The team also drew from a wide range of sources — including the U.S. census, records from three city agencies, and private data on real estate sales — to describe and analyze demographic trends and flows of investment in local real estate.

“The goals of the research project were to identify and explain changing forces, highlight concerns of local residents, and propose practical courses of action for positive future development,” explained Hope’s Executive Director, Robin LeBaron. “We hope the film and panel discussion will shed new light on the issue of displacement and lay the foundation for an alliance with local partners to preserve East Harlem’s historic standing as a vibrant, affordable neighborhood for working class families.”