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Vera Williams

Interview Abstract

In this interview, Vera Williams, a resident of Washington Heights, describes the changes that have taken place in the neighborhood since she moved there in 1984 and the issues she sees remaining in the community. Williams details how she moved to Washington Heights to live with her husband, Clarence Williams, who worked with her at the Excelsior Club beginning in the late 1980s, and mentions that her daughters and grandchildren live in the neighborhood as well. She goes on to address the role that Mattie Marshall has played in improving the neighborhood by increasing police surveillance to cut down on drug activity, teaching the community members how to properly dispose of trash, providing opportunities for children and college students to learn, and holding monthly neighborhood meetings. Recalling the community events held in the neighborhood, Williams mentions Christmas dinners at the Excelsior Club as well as cookouts in the park. She expresses concern about problems the neighborhood continues to face such as a lack of communication and development in the park.