Neighborhoods Social Sciences Essay Research Paper

Neighborhoods
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Neighborhoods
The neighborhood I have selected for this assignment is Grand Crossing in Chicago, Illinois. Although I have not lived in this community, I have learned a lot about it. Grand Crossing has a population of approximately 32,346 people. About 97% of individuals residing in this neighborhood are African Americans. Since the 1960s, Grand Crossing has significantly transformed to become one of the best places to live in due to the efforts made by some few people, such as Theaster Gates. I have learned that if individuals focus on positive changes in their community, many neighborhoods can be transformed for the better.
The change that is currently taking place at Grand Crossing is the conversion of old and abandoned houses into artistic and exhibition centers. Gates was a potter who realized that the number of abandoned buildings were increasing in his neighborhood. For this reason, he bought his first old house in his block. Indeed, it cost him $18,000 (Gates, 2015). Gates converted the house into a place for holding exhibitions and dinner parties. As such, people living there were happy, and they became more united since there was something that brought them together. Consequently, the primary activity that has transformed Grand Crossing is the introduction of community centers, exhibitions, and cinema halls.
The change in Grand Crossing aligns with the political capacity model. In particular, Gates acts as the community organizer who is encouraging the development of leadership among residents of his neighborhood (Kirst-Ashman, 2014). Through the renovation of old houses and the introduction of exhibition and artistic centers, he is fostering people’s interaction and social networking, which will facilitate the emergence of leadership. Overall, Grand Crossing will have a strong leadership due to individuals working together since they will h...