Lindsay Heights Lens: Neighborhood Strengths

“I see a bright, big shining star. The sun is shining with joy. The community still has life and opportunities to become a better place.” —Jerimiah Phillips
“I see plants. In the garden, there are beautiful flowers that the community takes time to plant and care for. The community is connected through this garden.” —Yellie Burrell
“I see plants. In the garden, there are beautiful flowers that the community takes time to plant and care for. The community is connected through this garden.” —Yellie Burrell
“I see a beehive under a grill. Animals do what they gotta do to survive. Us as a community, we also do what we have to, to survive in every day life.” —Tiyana Miner
“I see a turn-of-the-century cast iron fire alarm. This alarm has been through years of abuse and bright sunny days, but it is still here. There is a rich history in this neighborhood, which has been through a lot, but still prevails.” —Shane Woodruff
“I see a talking pepper. Even the smallest things can give life. My community has more life than I can see.” —Tiyana Miner
Photo by Brian Sims-Smith
“I see a clean dumpster area—usually it’s dirty around garbage. Running Rebels is keeping the community clean.” —Miciah Phillips // “I see the Running Rebels community center garbage bins are full, and tools are out. The Running Rebels work hard at keeping the community clean and fresh. The Running Rebels are dedicated to the community, and try their best to build on what the community offers.” —Tarif Garrett
“I see a city bus. When I take the bus, it’s usually quiet, and I see people from the community and school that I know. The bus gets people to where they need to go when they don’t have a car. And it also makes it so there are less cars on the road, which keeps the air cleaner.” —Miciah Phillips
“I see open fields that are being taken care of. Our people do care for our community, and don’t just keep trash around.” —Miciah Phillips “I see healthy fields and clean crops. People of the Lindsay Heights community have made an effort to make what they can beautiful. The people of Lindsay Heights are willing to work together, however, it is never highlighted. If news reports would show these things, then a lot more people would be willing to build the community.” —Tarif Garrett
“I see colorful flowers. People aren’t always the only beautiful and vibrant things in life. Life isn’t always bland, boring and hard.” —Tiyana Miner
Photo by Yellie Burrell
“I see colorful flowers. People aren’t always the only beautiful and vibrant things in life. Life isn’t always bland, boring and hard.” —Tiyana Miner
“I see a family of bees trying to get the nectar out of a sunflower plant. The community is trying to better the neighborhood by providing fresh fruits and vegetables, and honey! We still have people that care about the health of our community, instead of just filling it with junk food and unhealthy choices. —Jerimiah Phillips
Photo by Brian Sims-Smith
Photos by Brian Sims-Smith
“I see the Boys & Girls Club. Organizations like this provide youth indoor safe zones, to keep kids away from harm and from getting in trouble.” —Yellie Burrell
“I see a picture of a building. This building, the Running Rebels, has major community value and importance. The Rebels is a positive, safe space for all to come—not everything in Lindsay Heights is negative.” —Yellie Burrell
“I see benches surrounded by trees. People can come here to relax. The whole atmosphere gives off good vibes and makes me feel safe. There are places both inside and out within the neighborhood that offer a feeling of safety and connection.” —Yellie Burrell
“I see kids and staff joking around. Longstanding community organizations like Running Rebels foster the development of strong, supportive relationships among youth and between youth and staff in Lindsay Heights. The youth say it best, describing Rebels as ‘a brotherhood/sisterhood,’ ‘unity,’ and ‘love.’” —Sandy Bogar

There is a reason the youth saved the neighborhood strengths gallery for last: the pictures highlight some of Lindsay Heights’ most stunning and serene places to hang out and relax, and affirm what the youth have said all along: that there are a lot of strengths in the neighborhood, some immediately visible, and some where you have to look a little deeper. In this gallery of neighborhood strengths, the youth came up with themes of: community togetherness, resilience, “More life than I can see,” “keepin’ it clean,” beauty, healthy eating, indoor safe zones and outdoor safe zones.

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