+ Main Page of Elmhurst
+ The History of Elmhurst
+ Elmhurst Today
+ My Conclusions about Elmhurst
People have many varied responses when asked to describe their experiences. I asked several people, from age 13 to 21, about their experiences in Elmhurst. How do they feel about growing up in Elmhurst? What are their experiences with diversity and cultural differences? Do they feel affected by the diversity of the neighborhood? Do they ever encounter racism or ethnic tension?
"Personally I loved growing up in Elmhurst. It's basically having the best of both words-- peace and quiet at times but also lively and cultured. Diversity is definitely promoted and celebrated in my neighborhood. My neighbors are Italian yet they tell me "Happy Chinese New Year!" on the right days. They also try to teach me some of their Italian culture-- especially the types of foods but also the history."-K.T.
"The neighborhood is very diverse, every place you walk in the neighborhood there are people from different nationality, creeds, and religions. There is like a church on every block, some buddhist temples, some muslim place, a mall where a lot people goes and shop, growing up in Elmhurst you come to know about different peoples cultures."-A.D.
"Before I came to Elmhurst I lived in Jamaica for less than a year and before that I lived in West Virginia. The people in both those two places were very nice and friendly minus one or 2 mean kids. At PS 102 I came in I think second grade...like immediately I had problems with certain people. I mean like when I was in Jamaica, I was in an obvious disproportionate minority, there weren't that many Asians there, but I never really encountered racism there from anyone, but like PS 102 people began harassing me about my name." - Q.W.J.
"Well at least this part of Elmhurst was very enjoyable. It's diverse. Racism in Elmhurst? Hmm...not really...it's pretty damn good. Well there's the pretty run down Elmhurst by Elmhurst Hospital, and there's the nice and familiar one on this side near Maspeth. I've lived in both parts and this one is almost worlds apart from the one over there." -M.H.
"Well, growing up in Elmhurst and diversity, most of my friends are Asian. I never learned Spanish, my parents didn't teach us 'cause he said America's speak English so I should learn English to get through the world decently. Which blows, 'cause I want to speak Spanish, but that's pretty much it." -G.M.
"Growing up in Elmhurst for has been a great experience. I’ve never had to worry about violence or getting into any danger. The townspeople were polite and respectful. I’ve never had to think about diversity, going to elementary school, I was exposed to all races and ethnicities." -D.H.
"That's a weird question. Diversity? My block is full of Asians. I stayed in my block. When I grew up and went to junior high, I don't know. I mean seriously as a kid, I never thought about diversity. What did race mean back then?" -R.W.
"Growing up in Elmhurst is .. okay? I don't have anything to compare it to, but i think it's alright. It's .. clean? Everyone's pretty connected. Everyone lives around each other .. neighborhood isn't that diverse, I think. Most of my friends are Asian." -A.C.
"I feeeel that it's a good experience, it's always nice and quiet where I live and my neighbors are friendly. The schools are okay, and the diversity in the neighborhood and schools contain a large amount of races. Yes, I have friends of many races, yes i have." -A.L.
"Ever since I was little, I lived in Elmhurst and never really thought about how the world would be like. Now ,that I'm grown and know what I am doing, I find that there's a lot of racism going on in this world. People often treat each other in different ways because of their cultural backgrounds, race, and religious beliefs. To me , I don't really care if a person was to be Black, Jewish , White, or Asian. What matters is the inside of a person and not whats on the outside. For my friends, ... they treat one another equally and have different friends with different backgrounds. To them, it would be nice to hear stories from other cultures, other diversities." -C.L.
"Growing up in Elmhurst is fun. There is rarely any violence or gang activity. Schools in elmhurst are better than most schools in other areas. People are really diverse in school, not much people of the same. Its neighborhood is pretty clean and quiet. My friends are pretty diverse. I have encountered racism, but isn't really like making fun of people and taking it far, more of kidding around." -S.Z.
"I like Elmhurst. I feel there is a lot of diversity there so not one person feels singled out due to their race. Also the neighborhoods tend to be filled with kind people who mind their own business but help you when needed. I like my school sometimes, to be quite honest, but I feel that in order to like something you have to fully experience it and in order to like our school, one cannot be alienated into a specific social group, and I think the diversity and the student population as a whole allows one to experience different things." -N.C.