California Story Fund
Creating a Community Quilt and Anthology
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula
Menlo Park
Project Director: Heidi Lubin
Documenting the Belle Haven community in Menlo Park
For this project, at-risk teens from the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula gathered oral histories from approximately 15 individuals in Belle Haven, a low-income district in Menlo Park, Calif., mainly composed of people of color. Those interviewed ranged from recent immigrants from the Pacific Islands and Latin America to longtime African American residents to prominent community leaders and elders.
Project Director Heidi Lubin said, “This a community that people know little about. This project created a documented history of the area and gave voice to the experiences of people who live here. ”
In addition to conducting interviews, the Boys and Girls Club teens gathered historical photographs from those interviewed and also photographed participants. The interviews were transcribed and presented on a website. In addition, a printed anthology of the stories was published and made available to local community organizations, bookstores and community members. The stories were also presented at a community forum.
Lubin said, “I think that the whole community benefited from having these stories told, but I think the project had its greatest impact on the teens involved. They had an opportunity to build self esteem and gain understanding and respect for the rich cultural heritage in Belle Haven and ultimately a connection to their own roots.”