Denise Berry, Tonya Cauley, and Sabrina Spurlock grew up together in the Petworth neighborhood. They all lived on the same block, attended school together, and spent free time together, as their mothers were close friends. The Petworth of their youth felt like “one big family,” and they traveled by foot to local shops, school, and the park, without fear of safety. Tonya Cauley closed the interview with a powerful call for the members of the community to love and take care of one another.
Jasmine Byrd’s family has lived in Ward 4 for generations. She states that she has seen a lot of positive changes occur in the community throughout her lifetime, “cultivating this big diversity pot.” She notes that Upshur Street has become a thriving center for small businesses and that the neighborhood fosters a strong sense of community. Byrd ends her interview by noting that newcomers to the community need to recognize and pay homage to the community that already exists.
Reginald Thomas, Roosevelt Daniels, and Michael Vanison grew up together in the Petworth neighborhood. They attended Petworth Elementary School, played together in the area that is now occupied by the Recreation Center, and have fond memories about how closely knit the community was. The three shared recollections about the way the community has changed, naming stores that no longer exist but still provoke fond memories. Additionally they recall difficult moments such as the riots surrounding the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination. Their strong ties to the community led them to form the Petworth Reunion Committee, which seeks to commemorate the Petworth of their youth.