Past Events
Community Building Action Day
August 29th 2009
The morning of the Community Building Action Day kicked-off with two gardening events.
A group of volunteers followed Joe Tasby, executive director of the Potrero Family Resource Center to a small plot of land behind the Center. In the blazing sun, with beautiful views of the Bay to the east, the groups pulled weeds and tilled the soil in two abandoned planter boxes. Once a functioning water spigot was opened, the crew dug trenches and planted a wide variety of vegetables and flowers. After two hours of strenuous work, a final layer of planting mix was applied to the two areas. The new plants were thoroughly watered, after which a couple of crew members poured cold water on their heads, and everyone took turns washing dirt from their hands. Before heading back for lunch, the group traded cameras and cell phones to snap photos and capture the moment.
Several volunteers, including Gary Strang, the landscape architect for RebuildPotrero, worked hard digging holes to plant fruit trees supplied by Starr King’s Greening Director, Dale Scott. The group planted 2 fig and 2 apple trees at the front entrance to the school on Carolina Street as well as transplanting several trees into larger pots so that they will survive until Starr King’s Greening Committee determines where to plant them. Potrero Terrace residents Benita Johnson and Sarah Gillette worked alongside several of their Potrero Hill neighbors to help beautify this great neighborhood resource.
Following the successful morning of gardening at Starr King and the Potrero Hill Family Resource Center, community members gathered at the park and playground at the corner of 22nd Street and Arkansas for our Community Building Day BBQ Pot-Luck and celebration. Tracy Dixson and his team of grill masters provided a feast of hamburgers, veggie-burgers, hot-dogs and colorful salads. The meal was supplemented by homemade dishes carried over by residents and neighbors from across the hill, including potato salad, corn bread, fruit from a neighbor’s garden, and Susie Daniel’s famous red velvet cake. An excellent pot-luck lunch was enjoyed by all.
Throughout the afternoon, community members enjoyed the chance to meet and catch up with old friends, the warm weather, music, and family activities such as face-painting and an inflatable bounce-house for kids. Many neighbors participated in the mosaic tile art project, painting 100 ceramic tiles with images of Potrero, family, and messages about rebuilding and community. Many thanks to Uzuri Pease-Greene, Pat Cleveland, Sarah Gillette and Monisha Mustapha for their efforts in organizing the tile project. Having participated in training at Ruby’s Clay Studio, these volunteers helped participants to design and glaze their tiles. Sincere thanks to Ruby’s Clay Studio as well for their generosity in training the volunteers and in donating their time to fire the finished tiles. The tiles will be displayed at the office of Lauren Berkman, the Community Builder for Rebuild Potrero at the San Francisco Housing Authority Office, and eventually installed in the new development. We hope that over the course of the project many more neighbors and residents of Potrero Terrace and Annex will have a chance to add their own works of art to this tile mosaic.
Community members also had a chance to view the Design Boards from the May 2nd Design Open House. These boards illustrated the North-South Historic Grid plan, which was selected by the community at the May 2nd Design Open House. More information on the development of this site plan will be forthcoming this fall.
The day would not have been complete without the help of all three members of the Jackson family. Renee Jackson, who currently works at the Visitacion Valley Recreation Center, entertained children with bubbles, a hula-hoop contest, and obstacle courses. Acting as D.J. for the event, Leroy Jackson brought neighbors from around the hill to the park and entertained us with freeze dance contests and a variety of music. The lynch pin for the day’s activities, however, was Kuzuri Jackson. Her work coordinating the event with neighbors, residents of the Terraces and Annex and merchants made the day possible. We look forward to seeing her again for the Potrero Hill Festival this fall!
After much hard work and preparation, we felt that the first Community Building Action Day was a success and want to send a sincere thanks to all of our devoted volunteers and merchants, listed below. Please contact us to learn how you can be involved in planning for the next steps in the community building process.
A special thank you to participating community volunteers: Joe Tasby, Dale Scott, Peter Linenthal, Pat Cleveland, Malia Cohen, Gary Strang, Amanda Sibler, Benita Johnson, Denise Johnson, Vicky German, Christina Quiroz, Jeris Glover, Retha Garcia, and Susie Daniel.
A special thank to our community merchant’s for their donations: Nibi, Ruby's Clay Studio, Starr King PTA, GLS Landscape Architecture and Goat Hill Pizza.