Reflection

Since I am new to Milwaukee, the neighborhoods that closely surround UW-Milwaukee were quite unexplored and exotic to me. However, the concepts of urban neighborhoods are not foreign to me; I grew up in Chicago and have seen the difference social and economic institutions make on neighborhoods. Many of us have learned about the social infractions placed in our society for hundreds of years in Sociology and Social Studies classes. Therefore, going into this project, I had an idea I wanted to explore and perhaps prove as well; I wanted to challenge those who believe that happiness is achieved through materialistic means. While my family and I did not live in squalor, we certainly did not live lavishly. My parents always told me that through community, family, and hard work, that happiness is definitely attainable. When I first got off the bus on 35th St. and Lisbon Ave., I saw similar motives and beliefs in people simply through observation. Not to judge a book by its cover, but I feel like it is quite apparent that the neighborhood of Bunker Hill (where Our Next Generation is located) is not resided by the rich and powerful of Milwaukee County. Upon further research about Milwaukee and its surrounding communities, I stumbled upon data that showed low educational attainment rates, low income, and great population density. Consequently, as I started to interview not only adults of the community, I mentioned the statistics to those interviewed and they confirmed my findings. Once I started to work with the children at Our Next Generation, I saw the same values beam through their souls- through the constant smiles, laughter, and interaction they have with the volunteers at Our Next Generation. It is arguable that the expressions and signs of high spirits may have been performed for the camera, but I do believe there is a way to tell if someone is acting or truly feels their emotions. By interacting with the people in the pictures, I strongly believe that the expressions in the pictures were not being portrayed- they were felt.

Before the day of the photo shoot, I made sure I got the feel of Bunker Hill and its residents. When I took pictures, I didn’t tell anyone to pose, nor did I tell any one the reason for taking pictures because I wanted to see them in their natural demeanor. What I learned, in the end, is that while setbacks do damper a person’s life, it does not control their destiny. Those I interviewed, volunteer with, and spent time with were happy, strong people. In the end, this is a short documentary of the Bunker Hill community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin about cultural diversity, values,and strength.