The Voices of the Middle Branch interview series aims to celebrate the communities around the Middle Branch through visual storytelling.
We recently spoke to Keisha, a resident of the Middle Branch area for 16 years with family in the area dating back to the early 1960s. Keisha shared her thoughts and aspirations for a reimagined Middle Branch in an interview with Reimagine Middle Branch. Her memories of the waterfront include a memorable night in 2019 when she witnessed her favorite reggae band, Black Uhuru, perform at the Cherry Hill Music & Arts Festival. This experience was made possible by community leaders Fanon Hill and Navasha Daya, creating an unforgettable moment.
The most influential people in Keisha's life are her parents, and when she visits waterfronts or parks, she feels a sense of peace, serenity, and a connection with nature. Keisha emphasizes the importance of being good stewards of the Earth, recognizing nature's resilience and fragility. Regarding the amenities and facilities in the area, she believes they are too small, pointing out that while the rowing club building is beautiful, it is in need of additional space. Keisha also feels that the view of the Middle Branch and the Baltimore skyline is often underrated.
One aspect Keisha loves about her community is the presence of legacy families who have remained part of the Westport community for decades, some for a century or more. However, she hopes to see various styles of affordable housing, senior citizen housing, and restaurants with outdoor dining, including her long-awaited dream of an Ethiopian restaurant.
Keisha envisions a reimagined Middle Branch with plenty of greenspace, small-scale shops, stores, and restaurants, as well as maker spaces and activities for children and seniors. As the President of the Westport Neighborhood Association since 2011 and involved since 2009, Keisha has worked tirelessly along with neighbors to ensure residents have access to services and opportunities through advocacy, planning sessions, community events, and social media.
The local ecological environment has impacted the Westport neighborhood, particularly due to the presence of a waste incinerator that Keisha believes should be removed from the inner city neighborhood. A reimagined Middle Branch could help achieve the association's goals by ensuring residents' safety when accessing the park, and by promoting equitable development practices that actively combat historically racist transportation infrastructure policies.
Keisha Allen's insights highlight the importance of community engagement and the desire for a more vibrant and inclusive Middle Branch that embraces nature, provides adequate amenities, and fosters a strong sense of community.
“[The] Westport Neighborhood Association has worked long and hard to make sure residents have access to services and opportunities through door to door canvassing, planning sessions, community events and social media...”
Keisha is the President of the Westport Neighborhood Association since 2011 and actively involved since 2009,