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Library

Claire Cousin

July 1, 2016

|

Hudson, NY

Song

Recorded by

Nancy Ma

This interview is available in-person only. Please get in touch if you would like to listen.
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Summary:

Claire Cousin has lived in Hudson all her life. She grew up in a blended family, with her mom, dad, sister and two cousins. She reminisces on what life in Hudson was like when she was growing up, and how it differs from life here now. Her stories provide insights into challenges for the low-income community. She discusses the ramifications for the community of the changes, such as Warren Street versus other street layouts, rent costs, housing, food access, employment opportunities, places for kids and youth, police, safety and sustainability. She speaks about the Galvan Foundation’s presence in Hudson. In the interview, Claire reflects on her community activism, including protests, meetings at the barber shop, Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center (SBK), media coverage and city politics. She talks about youth leadership in social justice and her conversations with her daughter on race and identity.

This interview may be of interest to those who want to learn about city politics, the complexity of changing cities and the communities it affects, economic struggles, how people engage in community activism and parenting with a strong awareness of race and identity.

Themes:
Class
,
Change and Gentrification
,
Warren Street
,
Housing
,
Food
,
Job Market
,
Youth
,
Law Enforcement
,
Galvan Foundation
,
Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center
,
Activism and Advocacy
,
Parenting
,
Race and Racism
,
Interviewer Bio:
Nancy Ma

Nancy Ma is a Los Angeles based actress and writer. During her time at Williams College, she worked with children through the America Reads program. In LA, she works with underserved young people through Young Storytellers and leads an acting/improv/writing class at a local youth homeless shelter. She is developing a multi-lingual one-woman show that explores cross-cultural communication, identity formation and the meaning of home.

Additional Info:
Interview language(s):
English
,
Audio quality:
Low

Audio Quality Scale

Low - There is some background noise and the narrator is hard to hear.

Medium - There is background noise, but the narrator is audible.

High - There is little background noise and the narrator is audible.

Permissions: 

This interview is hereby made available for research purposes only. For additional uses (radio and other media, music, internet), please click here to inquire about permissions.

Part of this interview may be played in a radio broadcast or podcast.

Oral history is an iterative process. In keeping with oral history values of anti-fixity, interviewees will have an opportunity to add, annotate and reflect upon their lives and interviews in perpetuity. Talking back to the archive is a form of “shared authority.”

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