#ParkHillTalks Online - Covid-19 - May 13

We host #ParkHillTalks in places that people feel comfortable to share their experiences and stories. These are often places that people already congregate regularly.

In response to COVID-19, we have had to find flexibility in reaching people at home using video conferencing to keep the conversation going. These talks are intended to provide a space for community members to be updated in real time, find resources, and ultimately continue to build community.

#ParkHillTalks have unofficially been occurring in places in the community and online for as long as the neighborhood has existed. Bringing the structure of community organizing to video conferencing helps provide the platform to turn the conversations to action.

May 13, 2020

• 10 attendees

• Key topics

  • Neighborhood Diversity

    • Diversity on some blocks is shrinking, but community members expressed their desire to maintain diversity. We discussed our blocks’ demographics and the need to have community voice in conversations about the neighborhood.

    • Need for more community participation on PHGC & East Area Plan - especially youth. We discussed concern that developers don’t usually involve community and how it leads to displacement.

  • Education

    • Quarantine is forcing students to learn remotely. High school students discussed the challenges with online learning including finding motivation, missing out on sports, prom, graduation, missing friends, taking AP tests online, and mental health. We discussed how to support students with tutoring and how to best reach youth.

    • There is uncertainty in how the college experience will be like. Students discussed wanting to take a break from going straight to college because of taking classes online.

  • Outcomes

    • We agreed there needs to be more awareness for young people to be engaged in community talks.

    • We agreed that community is not aware that they could be in control, but that we can use different platforms for awareness.

    • We agreed that social media is the best way to reach out to youth and to make content fun and engaging.

    • We agreed to continue to reach out to the community to check in and make sure that we are being friends, first, and offering help, second.

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