“We Are Here” Stories (List View)

Palm Beach County residents were asked:

Please tell us about an important moment in your life that would help someone understand what it’s like living in your neighborhood.

The stories and micro-narratives they submitted (as part of the We Are Here SenseMaker project) are listed below. Click ZOOM IN to learn more about the community member and how they interpreted their submission. NOTE: Some stories were partially transcribed by volunteers who shortened the narratives and referred to the storytellers in the third person (e.g., “her experience was” instead of “my experience was”).


Oct 29, 2018

Helpful neighbors- Kene

About a month after moving into my house, it flooded. So at one point we lost our kitchen so our neighbors were nice and fortunate enough to bring us meals.
Nov 16, 2018

Mlk March-Rickia

I can remember the neighborhood coming together to watch the Mlk March and all my friends came over with they grandma because back then everyone couldn’t afford a tv
Aug 28, 2018

Things was simple

When I was little times were easy. Wasn’t much crime and this was claim. But these days these kids are around here killing each other.
Sep 21, 2018

Love of my city: Delray Beach

I like it in my neighborhood. Every time I accomplished something they put me in the news paper. Came down to Delray from Alabama. Lived in a very close tight knit neighborhood. Moved into this neighborhood back in 70’s, west side. Big dreams, read lots of magazines and showed black successful people and events in cities like Chicago, Newyork, etc. Dreamed of meeting those people. Ran for radio station in wpb hosted by urban league; talent show. Happiest day was when Jackson ran for president. Letter to attend convention in Atlanta delivered few days later. Invited into the private reception before program starts. Met Reverend Jackson. Delray allowed me to live my dreams, and granted me many opportunities.
Nov 17, 2018

The crash- Rickia

At the age of 13 I was in a fatal car accident that caused me to be in a wheel chair. My community came together to support my mom because my Father died in the crash. I’m still alive here today and although it has changed my life, the love remain the same
Sep 18, 2018

Don’t do things

Growing up in my neighbor hood was bad because it was guns bullets on the floor every morning I was in this small part of town i stayed on cherry hill (that’s what they call the street) it was bad. My mom got tired of it. I wouldn’t want kids doing things they not supposed to be doing