Splitting up Cabrini family would be tragedy

I live at 1230 N. Larrabee. My family and I are part of Cabrini-Green. Please help me and the rest of the people in my community keep our homes. We love where we live. We don’t like the idea that we are being forced out. People might think that we would want to move to a big house somewhere, but we don’t want that. How can people judge a place where they’ve never laid their head down at night?
The Cabrini-Green projects are one big family. We look out for each other as though we’re all related. It’s more than just neighbors; it’s about caring about and looking after one another. The people I live with are people I can really count on. That’s why I think that people shouldn’t judge people based on where they live. There are a lot of talented, smart and compassionate people living in Cabrini. It would be a tragedy to split up our family.

Everybody is always talking about all the bad things that happen in the projects, but no one mentions the good. My father, Maurice Edwards Sr., and my uncle Marvin Edwards are leaders in the Cabrini community and members of the Local Advisory Council. Through the council they have raided money for events like the Back to School Party, which supplied book bags, paper, pencils, folders and other basics to Cabrini children. They also helped stop the violence in Cabrini by organizing “The Talking Drum.” Fourteen young men, members of the Jesse White Drum Corps, marched through Cabrini-Green with their drums. They were followed by groups of people from all over Cabrini, who banded together to march for peace. As a result, the warring factions met and agreed to put an end to the violence.

My father and uncle grew up in Cabrini and have lived here all their lives. They have been thrown a lot of challenges over the years, but have ended up successful. Right now they are facing the biggest obstacle: trying to help people with low incomes out so they can have an affordable place to stay. Pushing families out of their homes and scattering them in unfamiliar and unsafe neighborhoods is not the answer.
I have been living in Cabrini all my life and I love it here. No, I’m not a gang member, I have never been arrested, and I am not involved with any crimes. I am simply a high school student trying to make something of his life and trying to hang on to his home. Imagine how you would feel if someone came into your community when you were a child and tried moving you somewhere else: away from your family, your friends and your entire life … just for a little money. If there’s anyone out there who feels like they can help, please help us.

Maurice T. Edwards Jr.,
Near North Side