People of all ethnic groups agree that residents living in the neighborhoods need to cooperate more. People generally friendly Bridging the gap between the tracts' ethnic subgroups will take effort, said Pierrette Faustin, program coordinator of Catholic Charities' Haitian Center. The Haitian population has exploded although the number of Hispanic residents in the two tracts has remained stable. Haitians, most of whom come from northern cities and Miami, often create extended families and support networks with other Haitians. Some longtime Katherine Street residents are comfortable with their lack of community involvement.
Residents feel they live in a different world, keeping to their tight cliques and sheltered porches.
Prostitutes often parade along the street regardless of the hour, using a nearby pay phone to arrange their rendezvous, Lewis said. My kids worry themselves silly about me. Just a block away, weeds choke the vacant lots that separate patches of colorful houses. Children pedal bikes down the street as their parents chat on the sidewalks. The language barrier isolates Spanish and Creole speakers.