Meet Traci
For the past decade, Traci has been a member of the Harlem community. Her grandmother and her mother used to live in Harlem but she was raised in the Bronx, lived in Westchester from 14 to 18. Then moved to Harlem after college and now works as a real estate agent at Brown Harris Stevens. She says, “I would say my Harlem story is quite successful because I started real estate, I want to say nine years ago, and I started with rentals. I was working for a rental firm, and I wanted to start sales… So I started an Instagram page… Uptown Traci… And I just started taking pictures of Harlem [and] of my apartments. And eventually I built a following over time. And a lot of that has contributed to my success. My very first sale came from Instagram. And it was ironic because I was at the shoe repair place on Lenox that now has moved to, like, 145th street. But I was there, and I filmed myself and put it on my story that I was in that shop. And then a guy, DM's me, and he says, ‘Hey, I used to go to that place all the time. Like, that place has been there for years.’ Then side conversation, he said he had a co-op in Harlem that he wanted to sell. So that was my first sale from Instagram, from someone in Harlem. So at that moment, I was like, 'Wow, social media is really powerful. Like, you know, let me keep this going.' So I always show the day in and day out of my life as a real estate agent in Harlem… So I would say definitely being in Harlem has helped my business tremendously.”
“I love meeting the old timers in Harlem… They tell me about some of the spots that used to be here. Like, 116th street that used to be a gas station where Harlem Tavern is. Pan Pan, the diner on 135th street that used to be there. And the way people talk about that food, I really wish I could have experienced that.”
Traci has made a continued effort to create bonds in the community by frequenting local business and becoming a regular, “I used to go to this juice bar on 133rd. Still there, Rejuvenate Juice Bar. And Shonda, the owner, she's become… basically like an auntie… So it's like that sense of community that you can't get anywhere. And… I go to other neighborhoods all the time, and there's just something about Harlem where people will stop to say ‘Good morning’ to you. People will see you carrying bags and… want to help you… That's what I love about Harlem.” She enjoys experiencing the community by attending local events like stoop sessions and the Uptown Night Market. Last summer her office also participated in Open Streets, “We were out there doing games for the kids [and] giving out ice cream, icees… And that felt good, because not only are we servicing people through real estate, we're also there to… talk to them… learn more about the people that we're serving. So that was… a really great moment for us just to really connect to people.” Through Traci’s work, she is able to meet residents of Harlem and learn their stories, “I love meeting the old timers in Harlem… They tell me about some of the spots that used to be here. Like, 116th street that used to be a gas station where Harlem Tavern is. Pan Pan, the diner on 135th street that used to be there. And the way people talk about that food, I really wish I could have experienced that.”
When she was younger she would often come to Harlem with her mom, “When I was young, we just walked all the way down 125th. There used to be a mall market. 125th market… My mom used to take me… there and I'm so little, but I just remember, like, bags and African clothes and everything hanging... But a lot of the vendors that are out on 125th are still there, and that's what they were doing back then.” During her undergrad at SUNY Purchase she got to revisit Harlem for a photo project, “So I did a series on people in Harlem, strangers in Harlem, on the streets, and I named it 'Harlem and Beyond'. And it was beyond because I did Harlem, I went to Mott Haven, and I took portraits of people. And then I had an exhibition for college as my senior project. So I have these huge black and white prints of people in Harlem… I did one on Easter Sunday, [and] Palm Sunday. So I have women coming from church in their hats… and their palms in their hands… So I came here out of college. My first apartment was, like, 138th street, fifth floor, walk up… You can't forget anything. ‘Cause if you forget something, you gotta go right back up.” She got to see Harlem in a different light than when she was a kid, “I said, 'Wow, this is. This place is magical.'” She describes the experience saying, “Everybody was so friendly. You had some skeptical people that were like, 'Where are you gonna put my picture?' But for the most part, people were so friendly and helpful… I always felt comfortable as a woman. You know, just being in Harlem… I felt like people were around to take care of you.” Having such a wonderful experience taking those photos and meeting residents is also what drew her back to Harlem to live and become a member of the community.
In one word, Harlem is home. “Harlem gives me… confidence… I don't walk around with my head down. When I walk in Harlem, I'm walking up with my head high and proud.” It has grown to have a deep personal significance for her, “It's a place of love. Almost makes me want to cry a little bit… I feel like Harlem is such a special place, and it doesn't compare to anything… I always feel like I'm growing with Harlem.” For people moving to the community, she thinks it’s important for them to learn about the history and create bonds within Harlem, “...Really get to know your neighbors, get to know… different events that are going on, because you really need to feel that energy that… Harlem has. And you won't feel that if you stay home.” She says, “It's the deep history of Harlem that really is fascinating here. I mean, you have all these walking tours… You have all these buildings that are still here, that have been here since the turn of the century… I feel like the history is what really keeps everybody here and what people learn the most from.”
