NaQuera Roach

This interview was conducted with Naquera Roach at Drop Forge & Tool in Hudson, NY on June 22, 2018.  Naquera was born in Hudson, moved to Georgia, and then returned to Hudson as a young child. She describes experiences related to growing up in Hudson, where she lived with her mother and near her extended family. Naquera tells stories about attending middle school and high school in the Hudson School District, including building strong friendships with people of all races and backgrounds, excelling at school and discovering an interest in teaching, and her path to college and work. Naquera shares times when she struggled with being an outsider and a minority, including in Hudson, in a school system that had a lack of mentors/role models of color in the school system, and in college. She discusses her work with the Promise Neighborhood organization and generally the experiences of youth in Hudson. Naquera also points out current issues in Hudson such as: lack of knowledge/understanding of areas beyond Warren Street, lack of entertainment or activities for youth and adults in Hudson, and poverty.

This interview would be of interest to those curious about growing up in Hudson, the experiences and challenges faced by youth in low-income communities and communities of color, the Hudson School District and educational pathways, local social service and youth-serving organizations, and shifting dynamics related to gentrification and tourism in Hudson.