DOG PARKS AND COFFEE SHOPS
DogParks & CoffeeShops: Diversity Seeking in Changing Neighborhoods (Trailer) from Sonya Grier on Vimeo.
The term “gentrification” brings to mind a myriad of images and ideas that could or could not resonate in the minds of a diverse group of people. The term means different things to different people, and is sure to spark an emotion, a reaction, or at the very least a response at the very mention of it. Whether you choose to term it gentrification, revitalization, or urban renewal, to most people, the terms are interchangeable.
America has experienced a shift in the migration process of late. Young (and not so young) urban professionals who once fled the big city metropolises for the peace and quiet of the suburbs, are now coming back to those same cities they and their parents once left behind. The convenience of the close proximity to jobs, businesses, restaurants, universities, and commerce make it all too appealing to be or become a city dweller.
“Dog Parks and Coffee Shops” is a documentary that takes a deep look into the cause and effects of gentrification. Written, directed, produced, and edited by three women: Dr. Sonya Grier, Professor Vanessa Perry, and Ms. Elise Perry, this is a collaborative effort to explore the notion of what happens when the wheels of change start rolling. Many questions emerge, like “are those wheels rolling in the right direction, or are they simply rolling over one population of people to make way for another?” “Dog Parks and Coffee Shops: Diversity Seeking in Changing Neighborhoods” explores not only diversity seeking, but this research also explores community, and consumption in neighborhoods undergoing urban revitalization. In a study of three in Washington, DC, neighborhoods, the film finds that there are differences in resources, cultural norms and cultural preferences that lead to tensions among some residents and perceived exclusion from consumption opportunities for others.
The notion of urban revitalization is at best a social experiment in growth and prosperity within a city or cities with diverse populations, cultures, ideologies and the like. At its’ worst, well the jury is still out on that. Dog parks and coffee shops is a literal reference to the changing landscape around and in three Washington D.C. neighborhoods affected by urban renewal/gentrification. “Back in the day, Washington, D.C. was the first American city with a majority African American population, and many neighborhoods were majority Black. Today, many of those same neighborhoods have experienced significant demographic shifts. Scholars have not explored how the changes in community diversity that accompany diversification, influence consumption activities”, states professor Grier. We will have to wait and see what the outcome is to this “new living arrangement.” Many have their opinions and others have their predictions.
After the initial screening of the film, people living in the same neighborhood who had never met, got a chance to dialogue and interact across racial, demographic, and economic lines, says Grier. “In this racially tense time, this documentary gives an opportunity for open exchange.” Collaborator and Editor Elise Perry, who grew up in one of the changing neighborhoods says, “There are those who want to be part of the revitalization process for different reasons. I have personally witnessed the changing landscape of the city. It’s a very interesting transformation that’s taking place.”
When asked what prompted these ladies to make this film, Vanessa Perry answered, “I would have to say it was seeing groups of people in a place together but not converging or interacting on any level. That was the spark for me.”
The landscape of many American cities is changing daily. Buildings are going up, people are moving in, and some others are moving out. To mix, mingle, and migrate is the mission. Mission accomplished, or mission impossible? You be the judge.
Check out the trailer for “Dog Parks and Coffee Shops: Diversity Seeking in Changing Neighborhoods”
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