Born in 1947, started working when I was 15 years old. Most important thing I experienced coming up is due to workforce-the sugar cane. I got older, getting a job with us sugar-I worked for 35 years. It was hard, very hard work but you had to make a living somehow. I also picked spring beans but the harvesters took the work away. I grew up in lake harbor and they bussed us to school. Quiet waters used to be lake shore high school and we were bussed from the camps in lake harbor. I had 4 kids, they went to glades central, to make ends meet we did any work we could.
Frequency: Commonplace
Don’t Give Up Hope
Growing up in a poor community. Pakhoke was a large work camp. The community raised the children. My mother did farm work. There was no violence. We were taught principles to work for what we want and … We were raised in the church. We love Pahokee, but now it’s sad to see what Pahokee has become as the jobs have moved out. There are broken families, not enough food to eat, not enough guidance for the younger generation. We need to work to enjoy life and earn what we get. There are few kids to have the opportunity to flourish now. I just moved back from Wellington. There is more structure there than here for the kids, especially those who need extra guidance. I would like to see a community center to help the kids with homework and keep the kids from getting into mischief. The kids are falling into traps looking for guidance and we are losing them to the streets and trouble. It’s sad. I could tell you lots of stories good and bad, butI would like to see Pahokee flourish again. It’s going to take more than what we got. Our government leaders are not cutting it. Outsiders come in to help but they are still leaving the community naked. We used to have our own police officers. They knew everyone and were able to deescalate conflict. Everyone respected them because they are our community members. Now the police come from WPB. They do not know us. Some are good, but some I do not trust. Here in Pahokee, we tend to take to people we trust. I hope Pahokee can bounce back.
Living in Belle Glade
This is a very diverse community. A lot of different nationalities. When I came here, I was raised in a community in South Carolina where there wasn’t such a diversity. When I came here, I saw how … a lot of times in a place like this you have to live it to understand it. It’s a community where people get along but I don’t think people are as close as they should be because of their upbringing. It’s very complicated. My brother drove 18 wheelers, filled vegetables from the field and brought them to the plants. I would ride with him and it was fun. Ive been to a lot of parts of Florida with him riding in his truck.
Another chance.
First came 5/9/2014 out of prison. (14 months) Difficult to find place to live because of past offenses. Matthew 25 ministries provided access to housing in sugar cane field. Started coming to United Methodist Church. Was surprised because people welcomed me. Difficult to find employment, but people let me into their lives and hired me for yard work. People in this community are different than any other community because they understand that people make mistakes. The Glades Initiative is helping turn my life around. People here accept us as who we are and extend friendship out. People understand that change needs to be made elsewhere. They need to work on unemployment and communication. Started an AA group (meets 3x/week) because people don’t have much opportunity. Town meeting happened at church, but town residents didn’t know. A newsletter or website would be good to help connect people.
Kitalicious
I came to this town in 7th grade from Riviera. I meshed better with the kids here than in Rivera. There was a big difference from school to school. If iI had stayed in Rivera I do not think that I would be the same person I am today. I know myself better because I moved here.
The Early Life
I grew up in Plains, GA. I grew up with Jimmy Carter. Plains was a little town and everybody knew everybody. Black and white did not make a difference. My brothers and Jimmy used to play together. We all worked in the fields together.
The Crawford Story
I grew up in Belle Glade, FL working in the corn fields with my father and mother. It was very hard and I did not get a chance to go to school that much because we were up back and forth on the road. We had a big family. We worked hard and sometimes we would go to New York in July. Growing up was good and we were always working.
Finally Home
The important moment was when I moved here 2010 from WPB. I was homeless. I had income but it was not enough to find somewhere to live. I was living with several peopele in a room but it didn’t work out and I was kicked out. So then I went to another place, paid my rent and then 3 days he lights went out. And the place was in debt and it was freezing cold and no electricity. I was so distraught, asking my lord to take me. And then I read a newsletter, call and spoke with a woman and she old me to come see her than MOnday. Sh worked for ARC, Marian Saunders. I went to see her at the library, she bought me breakfast and signed me up here (Quiet Waters ). I have my complaints, because its a small city, but we are like a family here. I have a kitchen and bakery and I bake for everyone. I am happy, its all I can ask for. A lot of things are different here: the smell of the sugarcane or the ashes of the burning of the sugar cane. Also the animals like chickens walking around and vultures. We could also use more activities here (skating rink, theater, etc). I am an activist and I try to change things here.
There is no better place to live than Belle Glade
I have been here since 1991 and I like living in the glades because everything is so close and I know where to go if I have a problem and my neighbors i can interact with. My brother and I were sick and all the people in the glades were always there to care for me, to take me to the hospital, and to take care of us. If it weren’t for the people of glades we wouldn’t be alive. Belle glade is a perfect place for me to live because without an education I can work in the fields as a migrant worker and take care of my kids in haiti
Life in Pahokee
The most important moment in my life were having my children. The hospital is now closed and it has really effected our community. We now have to drive to Belle Glade for healthcare. I came here in November 1970, married here in 1974. The roads on the way to my house have been needing fixing for years and nothing has been done. All the other roads have been fixed but they don’t care about ours in East Lake Village. I like Pahokee, its a nice quiet neighborhood. It’s not all that hustling and bustling like a big city.