Book Description

I moved to East Harlem, also known as El Barrio, on December 1, 2011. Before I moved, I had my doubts if I should, because East Harlem had a reputation for not being safe. I wanted to develop my own opinion, so I explored the places around East Harlem for several days. I found out that the whole area had changed. Crime rates weren’t surging, and the streets weren’t full of people using drugs. And because I visited the area long ago, I knew the difference. After living in the neighborhood for eight years, I confirmed that East Harlem had indeed changed for the better. East Harlem’s residents are committed to making this neighborhood a great place to live by getting more involved in the community’s political and social events, such as attending community meetings to discuss the residents’ needs. They also do their own cultural parades, and some do volunteer work for people in need. Besides that, there are food banks, community kitchens, and food pantries for hungry people. East Harlem also has the best representatives ever. They are working diligently for the advancement of the community. They are fighting hard to preserve affordable rent for the residents and to keep them in the area by preventing their landlords from increasing their rents to a level that they cannot afford. Also, the residents of East Harlem do not stay home when it comes to voting, which gives them the chance to speak up when their rights are violated.