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Students offer insight into Brownsville’s future
BY CHRISTINE HAINES
Herald-Standard
Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series of stories dealing with public meetings held in Brownsville to gather information to decide on a revitalization project for a pilot program by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
BROWNSVILLE - National consultants meeting with residents in Brownsville this past week to identify a community project found a meeting with high school students to be the highlight of the trip.
"They were so bright and forthcoming. They were great," said Dan Houston of Civic Economics. Civic Economics is providing the technical assistance to Brownsville through a pilot program of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
The consultants will help the community identify a project that can be carried out in the next two years that will make some type of difference in the community, helping to bring it back to a state of prosperity.
When the 16 sophomores, juniors and seniors were asked what the town's greatest weaknesses were, they were quick to focus on the dilapidated buildings, lack of businesses and dwindling community pride.
"When you go into downtown Brownsville, it's depressing," said Lauren Nichols.
"Everyone's used to being put down and they don't have any ambition any more," Tom Rates added.
"It's just a sad place to live. When you look at the old, rundown buildings, you look at the tops of them and they're really beautiful," said Ben Onesko.
"A lot of older people in Brownsville are waiting for the way Brownsville used to be," said Ron White.
Paul Vlosich II said one thing that should be a positive has turned into a negative for Brownsville. "Potential. This town has tons of it, but we have to use it," Vlosich said.
The students were equally quick to point out the strengths of the community, one of the first being that there is a strong sense of community. "It's a community. Everybody knows you here. If something goes wrong, you know somebody's got your back," said Adrienne Golembiewski.
The students saw more concrete strengths as well. "I'd have to say location. It's near a lot of major highways and it's right on the river," said Chuck Stephenson.
"It's a small town, but not too far from a major city," Katie Vig said. Vlosich said the town could be a great tourist site, given its history and location.
The students also had no problem coming up with ideas for potential projects. "There really needs to be a place downtown where kids can hang out, half restaurant, half something to do. Maybe little shops," Vig suggested.
While many of the students weren't opposed to the possibility of gambling in Brownsville, they also didn't see it as something that would make much difference to the town economically.
"Pittsburgh would just do it bigger and better, and it brings in the seedier aspects," Stephenson said.
Golembiewski said the town can't wait for someone to come in and save it. "You have to do it yourself. If the kids start it, maybe the adults will see they can do it, too," Golembiewski said. "When kids start doing something, parents always say we're doing it wrong and they eventually get involved and take over."
"Maybe we could show them that we could do something right," Stephenson
countered.
The students' ideas were brought back to Team Brownsville, the group assembled to carry out the development project through the ARC grant. Ellen Kight of the state Department of Community and Economic Development said the entrepreneurial spirit and energy shown by the students needs to be harnessed.
"You've got excited students and exciting ideas. You need to capitalize on that," Kight said. "If they've got an entrepreneurial spirit, you want to foster that."
©The Herald Standard 2003
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