Photo by Denae Brewer/Horizon
Like-minded community residents formed the Highbridge Community Neighborhood Council, which will address issues and concerns for the Highbridge area. Any person who has a genuine interest in the Highbridge community is welcome to join.

Council to unite and uplift Highbridge

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

For the first time ever, a conglomerate of civic –minded Highbridge residents have come to the table with the same goal: to unite the Highbridge community while addressing and ultimately solving their issues and concerns.

To that end, the Highbridge Community Neighborhood Council [the council] was formed.

“I see us being the centralized organization where decisions are made,” explained Philip “Dom” Arnold, a community leader and founding member of the council. “Solutions are created around issues as they pertain to residents, businesses and schools. Basically all facets of the community.”

In many ways, the council will serve as Highbridge’s community board. While Community Board 4 already represents Highbridge, Dom pointed out how they also represent numerous other Bronx neighborhoods sych as University Heights.

Not wanting to usurp the powers of the existing community board, Dom explains; how the council will run paralell or act as a “mini” community board. “The council will exclusively bring about representation and governance for the Highbridge community for the betterment of each institution and resident that lives here.”

The council, which celebrates its first anniversary next month, is comprised of various resident-led groups, including Highbridge Gardens Resident Council, A.S.W.O.N. leadership group and The Committee for Enriched Quality of Life.

In the past, groups like these, which worked towards a common goal—the betterment of Highbridge—worked separately.

Ocynthia Williams, who has lived in Highbridge for 23 years, recalls how residents along Anderson Avenue came together. “When I first moved here, rats, drugs and crime ruled the streets,” she said. Expressing her frustration and anger about the situation she continued, “The first thing we did was get rid of the rats. We took ownership of the building. Then we branched out.”

While 164 - 162 streets were being revitalized, those around 165 - 167 streets were also taking action.

“We saw the need for more youth activities,” said Brad Goodwin. A Highbridge Resident for 39 years, Mr. Goodwin has been a part of many leadership groups including Praise Peace and Pride. “We put together things like summer camps and basketball tournaments. Anything that would keep the kids out of trouble.”

With their various successes, leaders realized the community was divided.

“Everyone was kind of cliquish,” Dom said. “People from one side of the block were suspicious of people on the other side. There was no trust.”

The formation of the council should put an end to that. “We will bring together groups that traditionally have not worked together’ Mr. Goodwin said. “ It’s time that we share resources so everyone can benefit. Not just a select few.”

Similar to the knights of the round table there is no hierarchy in the council. Yes, there is an executive board, but each person has the same rights and privileges as the other. As their by-laws state, “Any individual who resides, owns a business, works or has a genuine interest in the geographic boundaries of the Highbridge section of the Bronx are eligible for membership in the Highbridge Community Neighborhood Council.”

For more information call 718-681-5212.