LAWRENCE: Eggerts Crossing video part of Black History Month

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The sidewalk outside Lawrence High School won’t be lined with limousines, red carpets or lights, but nevertheless next week marks the premiere of a 20-minute video entitled “The Struggle to Create: The Story of Eggerts Crossing.”
   The video, which was produced by Lawrence High School students, outlines the history of the Eggerts Crossing Village affordable housing development — the first of its kind in Lawrence Township. It was built in the 1970s at 175 Johnson Avenue, despite some community opposition.
   The video, which will be shown Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Lawrence High School, also kicks off Colour Conference 2013, which is a month-long celebration of Black History Month. Other events include Café Ti, which is an open-microphone night for students to share poetry, music and art Feb. 21, and “Footprints: From the Village to the White House,” set for Feb. 28. The events are open to all ethnic groups.
   Admission is free, but donations of money or food would be appreciated. Food items will be distributed to Trenton area families through the Light of the World Family Worship Church’s food pantry in Hamilton Township.
   ”Colour Conference 2013 is really focusing on the colors of creativity in the 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed,” said Lawrence High School senior Nyya Toussaint. He is one of the coordinators of the student-led Threads, Community House of Lawrence.
   ”The Struggle to Create: The Story of Eggerts Crossing” was inspired by Fred Vereen Jr.’s collection of papers and documents that he donated to Lawrence Township several years ago. Mr. Vereen, who still lives in the Eggerts Crossing neighborhood, was instrumental in creating and managing the Eggerts Crossing Village affordable housing development.
   Mr. Vereen wanted students to go through his papers and learn what happened in their own community, said Tonia Moore, the student assistance counselor at Lawrence High School. Mr. Vereen’s collection includes letters, newspaper clippings, minutes of meetings and photographs that document the neighborhood’s history.
   Mr. Vereen suggested an essay contest for the students, Ms. Moore said, but she thought they would be more interested in creating a movie. The students were excited about making a documentary, pouring through the material to locate people they could interview.
   ”Once the students met the people and listened to their stories, then the documents took on more meaning,” Ms. Moore said.
   They interviewed Mr. Vereen and his childhood friend, Fred Olessi. The two men grew up in the Eggerts Crossing and Eldridge Park neighborhoods.
   While Mr. Vereen and Mr. Olessi went to elementary school together, their paths diverged when they moved on to Trenton High School. Mr. Vereen, who is black, was steered toward vocational education courses and Mr. Olessis, who is white, took academic courses, Ms. Moore said. Lawrence High School did not exist.
   The students interviewed Peggy Huchet, who was also instrumental in backing the Eggerts Crossing Village development, and the Rev. Dana Fearon III, who was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville and another supporter of the development. They also interviewed attorney David Friedman and planner Joseph Feinberg.
   The film was a joint project involving Lawrence High School alumnus Sourabh Chakraborty, who graduated from New York University’s film school, and Lawrence High School students Amirah Brown, Kavon Marshall, Integra Feliciano, Naseema Uddin, Aleya Nelson, Zora Holness, Nyya Toussaint, Jakiya Pyron and Gabija Kertenyte.
   ”Footprints: From the Village to the White House,” which is a pageant directed by Lawrence High School social studies teacher Jametta Holloway, traces the history of black people in the United States and the contributions they have made.