This mural by artist Gaia on the side of Baltimore's Bell Foundry Building in
Station North combines the ideas of community revitalization through art.
(Photo by Jahi Chikwendui from The Washington Post)
Community as a concept is one that means something different to every person. For some it is the space space in which a person lives, for others it is the people that make up their church, but for all community involves a shared aspect or identity that brings them together. The factors that define a community are created by both insiders and outsiders, but the authentic experience within that group is one that is defined by the person who fully feels a sense of belonging within the group.
A large factor in the definition of a community comes from the proximity a person to that community. A person's perceptions versus actual experiences create strong ideas about who or what it takes to be a member of that community.
Gentrification seems to be a large factor in the definition of the community. With such large shifts in population dynamics, there are changes in the demographics that shape who creates the community of Station North. The issue with gentrification, especially within Station North, is the redefinition of what that community really is. In terms of space, shared ideas, and belonging, the idea of who makes up Station North and what the community of Station North is, is one that can only be defined by the people that have lived that experience.
Something I would be very interested in looking at is how residents in Station North define their community, whether they focus on the idea of community being psychological, physical, or even a combination. Additionally, I am very interested in the project of interviewing documenting the "One Block in Station North" from our syllabus. I think it would be awesome to combine qualitative and quantitative research to see how that area has transformed.
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