New Life for an Old Neighborhood
By Susan Bailey
Breckinridge County High School

George and Wanda Allen have been sitting on their porch on a beat up recliner watching the Habitat for Humanity house come together since early June
A quite a show it has been. Shortly after the foundation was laid, groups of young people have been coming to the worksite, usually in two shifts of about 20 people a day. They have stood quietly at attention – many with that “deer in the headlights” look on their faces – while Habitat’s Team Leader George Sgro gave them safety instructions and their marching orders.
Then the fun began. The shrill song of the circular saw, and the rat-a-tat-tat-tat of hammers on nails filled the air while a constant parade of people hauled studs, trusses and plywood sheets, pounding them into place, caulking and painting.
All the while, their clothes darkened with sweat and began to take on a reddish tint from the dust that filled the air.
For George and Wanda, it was not only fun, but it was a sign of hope for their neighborhood on the West End of Louisville.
“This is an old neighborhood, and it is most inspiring to see the new life being brought up and changing the neighborhood for the better,” said George as he and Wanda watched the dedication ceremony after the house was completed in just four weeks – a record build for Habitat.
George was a retired union painter and was a contractor for seven years, so he watched with admiration at the quick build from the ground up. His home had once been a drug house and he and Wanda see great hope in this new house and the young family that is moving in.
The 350 young people at the dedication ceremony were rising high-school seniors from across Kentucky who worked on the house as part of a five-week and academic and leadership residency with the Governor’s Scholars Program. The leadership of GSP proposed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build the house for Omar Muse and Ubah Adan and their young family.
The neighborhood has become so crime-ridden it has earned the nickname “Little Chicago.” In 2005, the West End had almost 50 percent of the total murders in Jefferson County. Just a few months ago several shootings broke out leaving three people dead and three others hospitalized.
However, Habitat and the GSP see this project and other like it and a way of changing the neighborhood.

Wanda and George Allen watch the dedication ceremony from their porch.

    “We build where there is opportunity and the potential here is incredible” said Habitat’s Chuck Sgro, team leader at this and many other home sites in the area. The Muse family was carefully selected by Habitat as a family that can truly make a difference.
Omar said he is not worried about any danger in the neighborhood and has met some very welcoming neighbors, including the George and Wanda, who live right across the street.
Aris Cedeño, the executive director of GSP, worked hard to build this partnership with Habitat. He sees the project as a way of giving his scholars a firsthand look at how to create change in a community.
“It is important to help this community,” he said, “because deep down every community has gold. It’s our job to bring it out.”