SAMPLE: Final Project Part I: Intergenerational Asset & Needs Mapping
For the Intergenerational Asset and Needs Mapping report I decided to take
my younger brother on this quest around our community in East Elmhurst located
in Queens, NY. Growing up in East Elmhurst, he was always around parks because
the school he attended would have a playground around it or on the very grounds of
the school. Growing up my brother shared that he wished there were more athletic
teams available, sort of like more of a structured setting for sports to be played. He
told me that the only structured play was while he was in school or during the
summer camps that he would attend.
I though It would be a good idea to take him around the neighborhood
because he is at an age where he is very active, always playing sports and going to
the gym and is definitely on social media and up to date with current events. My
brother is very athletic and active, so right away when I told him about this paper he
said let’s go to the park which is literally across the street. As we were walking
towards the park he mentioned that he is grateful to have a park by his home and at
such a close distance where he can go and be active because as a teenager you need
some sort of outlet.
During our walk, he pointed out that there weren’t any gyms for young adults
or teens to go to when facing distress. He said that was something he considers
important for adolescents his age. One reason he said this is because of all the stress
and pressures of growing up. He considers a gym to be a place to let off some steam.
He also said that it is geared towards bettering your health. This conversation led to
him saying that he wished there were less smoke shops around the neighborhood
SAMPLE: Final Project Part I: Intergenerational Asset & Needs Mapping
because of all the youth that are around. He mentioned that it is interesting there
aren’t any health stores around like vitamin stores, smoothie shops or sport shops.
Something very interesting that he mentioned is that every neighborhood
should have a local therapy or counseling center. He said that today a lot of people
need help but there isn’t that much access that is easy to get to. As we walked, we
came up to a place that everyone in the neighborhood knows, and that is a Baptist
church where they hold the presidential voting for the neighborhood every four
years. He mentioned that this church building is not utilized as much and that it
would be a good location to offer services like counseling and therapy. It is a large
space and the possibilities are endless. That location has been very dormant to the
point where you don’t even remember that it is there unless its time to vote. It has
served as a food pantry in the past but nothing more.
We didn’t face any challenges getting around the neighborhood because over
all it is a friendly place with sidewalks everywhere. It was also easy coming up with
ideas of how to improve the neighborhood because the needs are very clear. He also
mentioned that he is fortunate to be able to move around the neighborhood without
any trouble because he knows some people who have a hard time even accessing a
playground or basketball court in different areas of NY. With this sort of data, it can
present a fresh perspective to different generations who might not see the current
needs of today’s adolescents. Strategies that worked ten or fifteen years ago might
not be as effective as they once were to help the youth develop into the leaders of
tomorrow. This data can bring a fresh outlook on how to assess adolescent needs
within inner city neighborhoods.
SAMPLE: Final Project Part I: Intergenerational Asset & Needs Mapping
In conclusion, I would love to buy this property sometime in the near future
and dedicate it to exactly the things my little brother mentioned. Recently, I have
noticed how the youth are more aware of the needs around them and are more open
towards receiving help than in past years. Interviewing my younger brother and
hearing his take on how things are around his neighborhood and the need really
solidifies a dream I have of making an impact on the community. This community
gave my family and me so much as I was growing up, but it has failed to walk with
adolescents during these recent changing times.