Date: Time Period: 2009; 2009; Interview recorded in 2009Material: digital audio recording made using Edirol R-09 digital recorder and Adobe Soundbooth software.Dimension:
Total running time: 1:07:41
Creator: Isabel Cuervo interviewed by Sabine HeinleinIdentifier: aql:18293 cuervo_isabel_full
Description: "Leaving the neighborhood was a measure of success and it was really difficult for me to accept that I had to come back." Isabel Cuervo has lived in Sunnyside since she was six, but had to travel halfway around the world before she could appreciate the neighborhood. Growing up as the daughter of a Colombian single mother in a one-bedroom apartment wasn't easy. Isabel was not allowed to play on the street or walk to school by herself because her mother was "overprotective." She often dreamed of owning one of the "pretty, little houses" beyond Skillman Avenue, the virtual border that still largely separates the working class from the middle class. After high school, Isabel began studying different architects' approaches to low-income housing at Barnard College and later enrolled in a Master's program for environmental psychology in Spain. "I always wanted to travel the world," the 35-year-old says. But Spain wasn't what she had hoped, and Isabel returned to Sunnyside, broke and pained. "I felt like my life wasn't progressing," she says. "Leaving the neighborhood was a measure of success and it was really difficult for me to accept that I had to come back." In 2003 Isabel began her PhD studies in environmental psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center, which slowly changed her feelings towards Sunnyside. Isabel now appreciates the neighborhood's small town feel, its accessibility and diversity. "It's not in the middle of all that chaos that can be New York City." Isabel's doctoral thesis combines her two main interests, traveling and low-income housing. She recently spent three months in Bogota¡, Colombia, interviewing key stakeholders of low-income housing, including residents, developers and representatives of city agencies. She hopes her research will contribute to a better understanding between these divided parties, and improve the living conditions of working class families. As to Sunnyside, Isabel has found a good reason to return: One year ago she fell in love with a man who grew up on the same.
Creator : Isabel Cuervo interviewed by Sabine Heinlein
Date : Time Period: 2009; 2009; Interview recorded in 2009
Summary/Description : "Leaving the neighborhood was a measure of success and it was really difficult for me to accept that I had to come back." Isabel Cuervo has lived in Sunnyside since she was six, but had to travel halfway around the world before she could appreciate the neighborhood. Growing up as the daughter of a Colombian single mother in a one-bedroom apartment wasn't easy. Isabel was not allowed to play on the street or walk to school by herself because her mother was "overprotective." She often dreamed of owning one of the "pretty, little houses" beyond Skillman Avenue, the virtual border that still largely separates the working class from the middle class. After high school, Isabel began studying different architects' approaches to low-income housing at Barnard College and later enrolled in a Master's program for environmental psychology in Spain. "I always wanted to travel the world," the 35-year-old says. But Spain wasn't what she had hoped, and Isabel returned to Sunnyside, broke and pained. "I felt like my life wasn't progressing," she says. "Leaving the neighborhood was a measure of success and it was really difficult for me to accept that I had to come back." In 2003 Isabel began her PhD studies in environmental psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center, which slowly changed her feelings towards Sunnyside. Isabel now appreciates the neighborhood's small town feel, its accessibility and diversity. "It's not in the middle of all that chaos that can be New York City." Isabel's doctoral thesis combines her two main interests, traveling and low-income housing. She recently spent three months in Bogota¡, Colombia, interviewing key stakeholders of low-income housing, including residents, developers and representatives of city agencies. She hopes her research will contribute to a better understanding between these divided parties, and improve the living conditions of working class families. As to Sunnyside, Isabel has found a good reason to return: One year ago she fell in love with a man who grew up on the same.
Subject : Children of immigrants; Children of single parents; Neighborhoods; Environmental psychology
Rights : These audio recordings, photos and articles are the property of Sabine Heinlein. Uses of edited excerpts from her interviews are protected under a Creative Commons public domain license, but her full, unedited audio is open to researchers by request. Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for access. For reproductions of the unedited recordings, please contact Sabine Heinlein at (sabineheinlein@gmail.com).
Coverage : Locations discussed: Sunnyside, NY Sunnyside (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)
Type : Oral history
Format : digital audio recording made using Edirol R-09 digital recorder and Adobe Soundbooth software.; Total running time: 1:07:41
Identifier : aql:18293 cuervo_isabel_full
Related Items
Subject: Children of immigrants; Children of single parents; Neighborhoods; Environmental psychology
Rights Notice These audio recordings, photos and articles are the property of Sabine Heinlein. Uses of edited excerpts from her interviews are protected under a Creative Commons public domain license, but her full, unedited audio is open to researchers by request. Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for access. For reproductions of the unedited recordings, please contact Sabine Heinlein at (sabineheinlein@gmail.com).
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