Slums don't mean crime, they don't mean despair and they surely are not lacking in color. There is a tight knit community in many slums and that holds true for this one on the south side of San Jose. When people are disenfranchised they learn to lean on each other, trust each other and survive together.
The toys are not brand new, yet the children smile, the TV's are not flat screen but the cheers of a winning goal echo much further than insulated walls of the rich and service is given with a little more consideration. The times are tough especially when monsoon rains hit, or when there are gross economic downturns. But resilience in small communities such as this one comes in spades. Just as the houses are held together with a patchwork of tin and plywood, their community is a patchwork of passion, vibrance just without the security of the next days work or meal.
© branson Q 360 °