Realistic or Modern 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑺; 𝑳𝑶𝑹𝑬

[erzulie]

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  CHANGES
  LORE​
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  —The Community.​

  
  Holden Yard, New York.
  — Holden Yard is home to a diverse community. There are tensions with cultural differences but everyone pretty much grew up with one another. It’s a small area where everyone knows everyone. Holden is the type of community that isn’t very welcoming to outsiders. Those within it don’t tend to carry their hearts on their sleeves as they know how dangerous it can be.
  
  There is a problem with crime within the community. When people are placed in poor situations with no way out, they tend to do what they need to in order to survive. Running the streets is a popular option for the youth there or robbing if they’re sneaky enough. Holden is viewed as an afterthought, an eyesore to the more polished areas around. Schools are underfunded and teachers underpaid, there’s definitely a lack of care there.
  
  Holden Yard is a decent sized neighborhood with the majority of the homes being housing complexes. There’s a local park that people go to during the day but wouldn’t dare stray to at night. A few corner stores and a grocery store are situated within as well. Though with the changes happening, who knows how long those places will last. As one of the main spots for the Harlem Renaissance, along with Central Harlem, there are a variety of cultural spots to visit once you leave Holden.
  
  THE CASTE SYSTEM
  — Holden is known as the slums for a reason. Many of the residents don’t own homes or just a roof over their head, instead they rent apartments or stay on the streets. Holden is home to the working class, it’s a place where people work multiple jobs just to get by. For higher paying jobs people tend to branch out in hopes of finding something better. Those that stay within the neighborhood work local jobs, janitors, schools nurses, and cooks are just some of the job opportunities in Holden. The right category for the neighborhood would be lower middle class to outright poor.
  
  EDUCATION
  — With schools that are underfunded and teachers who aren’t paid enough to care, Holden’s schools are seriously lacking. Parents are unable to send their children to the nicer, private schools due to financial struggles and distance. It’s safe to say that it leaves something to be desired. It’s not uncommon to see students skipping school all together in order to work or run the streets. When bills are due and the fridge is empty, there are more important things to worry about than school it seems.
  
  Those who seek a higher education head over to The City College of New York where they hope to better their lives by attending and graduating.
  
  CRIME
  — Poverty causes crime and crime causes poverty, it’s truly a vicious cycle in Holden. A cycle that has unfortunately trapped many of the youth in the area. Gang life is glorified here, it’s treated as a quick fix to escape one’s situation. Many are willing to join and shed blood if it means that they’re able to better their lives. With no programs or opportunities to help with that, it’s all too easy to enter that world. There’s no surprise when a body comes up on the news after a shoot out. And like in many neighborhoods such as this, police presence is heavy. Though people tend to keep information to themselves. There is tension between the community and the police who seem far from sympathetic of their situation. They’ve seen too many individuals abusing the people they’ve sworn to protect, taking bribes or participating in other corrupt activities. The current gang that runs the streets goes by the Vice Lords.
  
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  —LOCATIONS.​

  
  THE VIEW.
  — Within Holden there’s a main set of apartment complexes that have simply been dubbed “The View”. It’s said that they got their names back in the 20s, when people would have block parties and you could see the commotion from above as people danced in the streets and live music played. Unfortunately these three buildings have seen better says. It seems like something is always in need of fixing and someone’s loud kids can be heard making noise in the room above. The View is in the center of the neighborhood.
  GREENWOOD PARK.
  — During the day Greenwood is a place where people go to enjoy nature. While there are benches and open spaces for people to do as they please, the main attraction is the playground located in the park. At night it’s a hotbed for criminal activity and thus people are told to stay away from it when night falls. There’s also a basketball court for the athletic types. You can typically find the homeless asleep on some of the benches or various strays roaming in search for food.
  
  BUY & GO!
  — Holden has a number of corner stores but none have stood the test of time quite like Buy & Go! It’s owned by Anthony Diaz and ran with the help of his wife and son. Buy & Go! Is one of the oldest corner stores in Holden. One can often find Anthony shooing away loiters from the front of his shop and eyeing certain customers as they roam the store.
  
  SOUTHERN FUNCTION.
  — Southern Function got its name from the original owners. It was created by a pair of sisters whose family migrated from the south during the Great Migration. It’s been owned by the same family for years. Southern Function is a bar and nightclub. The people who show up are often regulars. During the day it acts as a regular bar while at night the live entertainment is brought in.
  
  
  MORE TO COME.
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code by @leviathan.​