Neighborhood street fighters
Men and women who saved their communities
Archived article from Oct 15, 1999
By Steve Manas
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" -- Howard Beal, TV news anchor-turned-crazed prophet of doom, in Paddy Chayefsky's 1976 Oscar-winning movie, "Network."
When actor Peter Finch's tortured character in Chayefsky's classic film spit out his battle cry, it quickly became the mantra of his equally fed-up followers. He was railing against a dramatic and offensive plunge in programming standards. For the principled broadcast veteran, the morass into which executives were dragging his network was nothing short of a quality-of-life issue.
But Howard Beal remained a single, albeit popular, voice against his powerful bosses, an underdog who could not win the battle to raise "the common denominator," and eventually paid with his life; in the name of ratings, executives arranged his assassination on live TV.
Fortunately, not every underdog shares Beal's fate. Some are successful in their quest to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Michael Greenberg, professor of urban studies and community health at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, profiles 24 such exemplary individuals who, by dint of character, refuse to surrender their personal space to elements of decay and degradation. In "Restoring America's Neighborhoods -- How Local People Make a Difference" (Rutgers University Press), Greenberg relates the stories of community activists whose remarkable fortitude becomes the driving force in what are literally life-and-death, block-by-block struggles for neighborhood survival.
Three years in preparation, the work is an outgrowth of "Environmentally Devastated Neighborhoods: Perceptions, Policies, and Realities," a study by Greenberg and colleague Dona Schneider of communities brought to their knees by multiple environmental hazards, such as air and noise pollution, blight and crime.
"Something was going on to enable some of these neighborhoods to survive," Greenberg said. "I returned to some and interviewed some pretty amazing, caring people. They didn't take no for an answer from the politicians and bureaucrats. They were savvy, patient and really knew how to make the system work for them.
"These were ordinary people and didn't fit the demographic stereotypes that many of us associate with leaders," he continued. "There were women, single mothers, Asian-Americans and Latinos, some of them working in combinations, although coming from different backgrounds and places. I call all of them 'street fighters.' "
Among activists profiled is Yvonne Carrington of Chester, Pa., an African-American single mother spurred by the senseless, random, fatal shooting of her daughter on the eve of the young woman's departure for college. "Yvonne has spearheaded a neighborhood revolt against the housing authority -- she actually led the fight to beat HUD in court -- and subsequently upgraded the quality of her community," Greenberg said. "She led the redevelopment of the public housing she administers -- the buildings the housing authority wanted to demolish. She is deeply involved in addressing economic development and community education, as well as the perilous conditions in her neighborhood."
According to Greenberg, Carrington shares important characteristics with other street fighters: the people skills to rally individuals and groups to fight perceived injustices and the ability to see the interrelationships among community problems and their solutions. "Despite the lack of a college degree, Yvonne and many others are street-smart, creative and quick learners," he said. "For instance, once they receive a grant for housing, they learn to stretch the funds for related economic and education projects. Then, with a track record, they can secure additional funds from other sources."
As Greenberg interviewed his street fighters -- a storefront minister from Elizabeth, a public health service doctor and his lawyer wife working with Makah Native Americans in rural Washington State, arson fighters in Detroit, among others -- he was astonished by their dedication. "These were incredibly optimistic people who wouldn't give up," he said. "When they saw a chance to improve their lives and neighborhoods, they grabbed the ball and ran with it.
"Our challenge is to figure out how we can provide sufficient resources to these people so that they can continue and expand their efforts."
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