Listening to the Coqui ...

talking history about --

Listening to the Coqui back home in Puerto Rico,

Black Nationalism and blockbusting,

Raising daughters who grow up to become teachers and principals,

Losing a child to gun violence,

Sweet 16teens at the community center (Morrisania Air Rights),

The power of economics and a community,

The Irish,

Making cabbage rolls stuffed with meat, onions, peppers,

and children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren,

-- the Bronx

the roots of the community.

PPS Andrew Jackson Center - Bronx - Thank you! Thank you Arlene Rivera. The COCOON Team: Mirana Zuger, Alejandro Salgado, Jewels Marshall, Eric Etheridge, Taj Collis and Kate Browne are looking forward to coming back! We had a wonderful 2 days with all of you. Thank you for the courage to participate.

Thank you Mirana Zuger for the photographs.

Great Day in summer at Morrisania Air Rights!

In August at Morrisania Air Rights -- COCOON workshop -- talking about history, how rich it is, and also who is after everything -- the best icy man -- up in Joyce Kilmer Park near the fountain (cherry or mango and sometimes both together all at the same time) -- especially if you're riding your bike.

@ Morrisania Air Rights - Paris, the Bronx and Jackson, MS represented in the pop-up exhibition

COCOON workshop outside Chaney Yelverton's TA offices. Thank you Chaney! Thank you Peggie!

Talking about a long time ago in the South at Morrisania Air Rights in the Bronx

TODAY Join us -- COCOON Workshops Morrisania Air Rights

Thank you Chaney Yelverton!

A Day Field Organizing w/ COCOON team

Breakfast meeting at Jimbo's -- eggs, grits, steak, pancakes, bacon, toast, oj & coffee. In August over 100 people participated in COCOON workshops marking memories on a community memory map, recording testimony, making symbolic memory objects and having their photo portrait made. We talked about what worked and didn't work, how to reach more people and groups, and Fall at Jackson, Melrose and Morrisania Air Rights Houses. 

Knocking on doors in Morrisania Air Rights Houses and talking with people about COCOON. Mirana Zuger, Taj Collins, Jewels Marshall and Alejandro Salgado leaving Jackson Houses.

We joined the afternoon Peace Walk that Kyasia organized in response to violence in the neighborhood.

Join us for Saturday's COCOON workshop here at Morrisania Air Rights Houses from 11-2, Refreshments.

Melrose Houses Reunion

Beautiful day at Melrose Houses Reunion in the park under the trees. Thank you Jennie Cruz, TA President for inviting COCOON. Delicious Jamaican barbecue by Chef Dave Fraser, a basketball clinic, a field day of children running races around cones & hula-hoops -- lots of trophies, DJ David “Tricky". And families, dads and moms and aunts, uncles, grandparents, sisters and brothers and lifelong friends. 

Eric took portraits, the COCOON team worked with people as they made symbolic objects and I recorded the stories on family and new babies, on friendships and sharing delicious food, on the extraordinary pain of losing people to gun violence, on loving children, growing vegetables at Melrose back in the early days, on the pet chihuahua in a pink dress and pearls, and on new school backpacks.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories on Melrose Day and to the COCOON team Eric, Alejandro, Jewels, Mirana and Taj. 

© all by photos Eric Etheridge