North Carolina family helps Habitat revitalize their neighborhood
Barbara Gotay is pushy, in a good sort of way.
In the way she uprooted from Puerto Rico to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a better future for her daughters, Crystal, 17, and Amaryllis, 11.
In the way she insists that her girls do well in school so they can go to college, something she did not do.
In the way she hustled between shifts as a bus driver to complete her sweat equity hours with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, and in record time no less, so that her kids could have a place to call home.
In the way that she stepped into the role of community leader so that the residents of Long Acres, her neighborhood, could have better lives, too.
Not surprisingly, Gotay has pushed her daughters to get involved. Crystal is a youth leader for Habitat Wake and her tribute to her mother at a recent Habitat fundraiser garnered more than 200,000.
Yes, Barbara Gotay is pushy. Because she is, Crystal is heading to college in the fall. Long Acres is improving. And Habitat Wake is considered a leader in Habitat’s neighborhood revitalization efforts, which are designed to serve more families and boost our impact throughout the United States.
Sitting on their front porch in Long Acres, Barbara and Crystal talk about their partnership with Habitat, one that continues to grow stronger over time, along with their neighborhood.
Barbara Gotay, Habitat homeowner, community leader
Q: What does this house mean to you?
A: It has meant a lot because this is a safe place to raise my daughters. If something happens to me, I know they have a place to live.
Q: You could have chosen to build your home in a couple of different neighborhoods. Why Long Acres?
A: When I drove through here, it just felt like home. Almost four years later, I still love the neighborhood and feel that this is the right place. All of my family is in Puerto Rico, so my neighbors are my family. If my daughters get in trouble, someone is going to be right here to help them.
Q: You completed your sweat equity hours in record time. Why the hurry?
A: If I have a goal, I am going to do whatever I have to do to make that goal. I had to do 75 hours to be able to pick my lot, and I wanted to live in this neighborhood. When I got approved by Habitat, I started putting in my hours real fast. I’d finish my first shift driving the bus, then volunteer at the Habitat ReStore. All sweaty, I’d put my uniform back on and do my second shift. I completed my hours in 15 days.
Q: Is Long Acres getting better?
A: It is. When I first moved here, people said the community was real bad, that there were a lot of drugs. As soon as Habitat started getting involved, things started to change. The police officers are now more involved. More neighbors come to community meetings. It is now up to the community to make this a good place.
Q: What are the big plans for the neighborhood?
A: We want a community center for the kids to have a place to do their homework and the seniors to play bingo. Right now, the kids play in the street and that is not safe.
Q: You give a lot of credit to Habitat Wake but Habitat Wake calls your family great partners. What do you think about that?
A: It is mutual. I tried for so many years to have my own home, and I finally have it because of Habitat. I want to keep my commitment to Habitat and be involved in the community. I want my children to be involved, too.
Q: At the Habitat fundraiser, Crystal called you her hero, minus the cape, because of your work to give your girls a good life and the example you set. How did that make you feel?
A: I just cried my eyes out the whole time.
Q: Do you consider yourself pushy?
A: I am very pushy. I am pushy because I want my children to be better than me. I want to make sure other families out there have a good place to live
Crystal Gotay, Habitat youth leader
Q: Do you remember moving into your house?
A: My sister wanted to sleep with me the first couple of nights because we had shared a room since she was born. Before, we had been living in apartments. There was this one where the lady who lived above us wore heels at 6 a.m. That wasn’t fun.
Q: What kinds of things do you do for Habitat?
A: My sister and I have helped with surveys on how people feel about the neighborhood. That was really cool. We help with the harvest festival. The neighborhood had a talent show, and we participated. I am going to be speaking at a meeting with young people about getting involved in the community. Being involved with Habitat has given me the chance to meet people I would have never known otherwise. It also has helped me realize that I want to major in public relations.
Q: Do you think your neighborhood is improving?
A: A lot of changes have been happening because of the leadership team. We started having events, and people are starting to come out more. We aren’t just making empty promises. Slowly the neighborhood is opening up and becoming a community.
Q: Why is it important for you and others in the neighborhood to get involved?
A: This is our neighborhood. It works better if we come together and if we are the people speaking for ourselves. When Habitat goes on to another neighborhood, the work here does not stop.