Humboldt&Me

The Humboldt Park Neighborhood
I say this is a very special community in Chicago. Yeah there are ethnic communities all over the city but the large flags are pretty iconic in my opinion. Maybe it's just me because I lived there or maybe it's because of my Puerto Rican background that makes me believe it is so iconic. This neighborhood has a pretty bad reputation. And right now I am just rambling on...

This is an example of a mural located in Humboldt park. I feel that a lot of people I know that still live in that area is still known to be struggling. My family was also part of that struggling group. I feel like that was a reason that pushed me to the position that I am in now. I am the first in my family to go to college. I am the first to even graduate high school. My whole life I valued education and knew that it would take me to bigger and better things. Honestly, I never really saw beauty in Humboldt Park while I lived there. But when I go back from time to time, (for example: the Puerto Rican festival), I feel proud that I was a part of that community and a part of the culture. They show so much of their culture throughout the streets and I found it fascinating. Something that was once just a part of my everyday life and now I can actually see the beauty in it. I guess with this project it kind of gives me the chance to reconnect with it? And possibly see if the people that are living there today see the beauty in their community or not.