For the Neighborhood Lens feature, NNS puts cameras in the hands of Milwaukee residents and asks them to document their own community. Marcela Garcia is a longtime resident of Chavez Drive. This is the second of two galleries featuring her photographs.

Cesar Chavez Drive is the artery that connects me to many places, numerous people and countless memories—it is home. If this street could talk it would tell you that I refined my Mexican pride when I landed the Aztec princess role in 4th grade for Allen-Field’s Mexican Independence Day float, back when the parade’s route marched vibrantly down the street. It also witnessed when I learned to talk to strangers selling tamales out of a cooler for a church fundraiser. On this street I trained my ear to identify the paletero bells.

My family, the García family, has eaten thousands of elotes, enjoyed many taquizas, has eaten innumerable bowls of menudo, and has welcomed many new years on these blocks. On this street, I fell in love. This series of photos captures memories, places and the everyday people whose magic brings life to this street.