This week, our first ever Youth Voice intern cohort wrapped up their internship with TLCBD, and we’re highlighting our interns after a summer of incredible work. Last but not least – Bonnie Tang!
What is your relationship to the Tenderloin?
I’ve been living in the Tenderloin for about four years now, but my connection with the neighborhood really started to grow when I started my internship with TLCBD. I’ve learned a lot about the Tenderloin, and I used to have a hard time seeing past the stigmas surrounding it, but I know now that it’s so much more than that.
What’s something you love about the neighborhood?
The people. The Tenderloin community is so closely knit. Whenever I’ve gone to local events with TLCBD, most of the people there always seem to know each other, and that’s something you don’t see in every neighborhood. The food here is also so good!
What’s something you would like to improve for the neighborhood?
I’d like for people to have a stronger sense of safety, and better living conditions. The homeless population doesn’t get the attention it needs, and without enough resources, we can’t expect anything to change.
What was your experience like interning at TLCBD?
I’ve had a lot of fun! I’ve learned so much about the Tenderloin, and about myself. Living here, I haven’t paid much attention to what’s around me, and I realized that I’m contributing to the problems by ignoring them. I learned that the neighborhood is so much more than a containment zone.
This fall, Bonnie will begin her sophomore year at the University of California, Irvine, where she is pursuing a major in psychology. In the future, she hopes to learn more about how neighborhoods can reorganize to improve living conditions for everyone, and solve problems like drug crises and homelessness.
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