“If I had a superpower, it would be wisdom because we can gain a whole lot of knowledge and not know what to do with it. We can be blessed with a whole lot of things and not know what to do with it. We make decisions and I feel like if we gain the knowledge and put it into use and make the right choices, then it becomes wisdom. There’s also wisdom that you can find through mistakes. So even when I make mistakes, I want my superpower to kick in and let me learn something.

We need more unity in the West End. I remember growing up and being able to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg and I wouldn’t be talked about so bad. It wouldn’t be ‘Ah, you make all this money and you can’t get an egg?’. When it’s really me not being able to make it to the store and just needing an egg. I remember our neighbors used to spank us and tell our mom and then we got a spankin’ because the neighbor had to spank us. You know, all the children got along and would play street football. It was a whole lot of community help. We just saw and helped. We didn’t have to ask somebody if they needed help. We just saw and did it. We need more of that.

I tell my kids, all the time, it don’t matter if you come from the hood, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be intelligent. By the way, I got ten kids and I’m on my way to get my masters’ degree. We get looked upon as a poor and unintelligent community. The West End is where people want to be. Why do you think you got people, from outside the community, opening up convenient stores? Because this is where the money’s at.” - Gloria pictured with her children Dadrianae, Solomon, Victorious, and Jaedan

"Everyone should have kindness and always be nice. People should stop arguing and always have fun." - Solomon (Center)