“It’s my heart,” Black History Month
My grandmother and great-grandmother were the backbone of our family.
They are my Black history.
— Kim Speedwell, Homeowner and HAC Member
Kim Speedwell has owned her house in West Oak Lane for over 22 years. She lives there with her husband and adult daughter. When asked why her home is important to her she says, “Because this is something that I own and can leave to my children, somewhere where I make memories, in the kitchen, have family functions. In family photos you can see my home in the background.”
Mrs. Speedwell is a member of RTP’s new Homeowner Advisory Council (HAC); the HAC provides a forum for RTP homeowners and other community stakeholders to provide advice and direction to RTP’s work. Mrs. Speedwell’s twin sister informed her about the program and she’s grown fond of everyone involved. “When contractors would come over, I would feed them. We don’t have to be strangers. I joined for more knowledge and to meet more people. To learn how I can be a part, how I can help.”
Mrs. Speedwell prioritizes helping her elderly neighbors. “My next-door neighbor is older, and I was glad that they received repairs through RTP’s program. I want to help them to understand that these programs are real. Elders have a hard time believing in things, I can help advocate.” In general, she loves to help people. Whether it's cooking, feeding people or helping others out, she says, “In life it’s not about you, but about others. When you go through life lessons, you can use that to be a voice to help others. Things that happen TO us also happen FOR us, so that we can help one another through hard times. “
Things that happen TO us also happen FOR us, so that we can help one another through hard times.
Mrs. Speedwell was “ecstatic” about the work RTP did on their home. “Some of the work that was done was very expensive. Major things were able to get done without us having to pay, because we really didn’t have the funds. I was so grateful, so grateful, so grateful. I previously wasn’t able to do anything to my home because of the damage, but since then I’ve been able to make the house homier.”
When asked what Black History month means to Mrs. Speedwell, she was quick to tell us how important it is to her. “It’s my heart—to learn about my ancestors. Malcom X and even my grandmother are a part of Black history. My grandmother and great-grandmother were the backbone of our family. They are my Black history. Even my aunties, and things that my mother went through, she tells us about those things. History is important, we need to know about these things as a people. We need togetherness and to stand up for what Black history really means. I’m grateful for my ancestors because even at the point where we are, we are able to speak our minds.”
“ I joined for more knowledge and to meet more people. To learn how I can be a part, how I can help.”
Kim Speedwell (far right) pictured with other members of the Homeowner Advisory Council and RTP staff.
