Walk With Me in Walnut Hills

By: Tab Burnett

My first time walking to 1001 Colors.

My name is Troy (Tab) Burnett. I have lived in Carthage, Ohio for most of my life. I am 18 years old and I go to Aiken New Tech High School. My favorite after school activity is marching band. These are some things that have brought me to Walnut Hills: my own curiosity, a chance to earn money, and whimsical creative freedom. This is my first summer Apprenticeship with 1001 Colors. Throughout the summer, I’ve been working with The Well, a nonprofit organization located in Walnut Hills. All summer long I have been working on a project called WanderRoots and the idea of how we can take in information about what safety and belonging means with all of our senses in order to create a map of safe spaces for youth, by youth.

My first two weeks in Walnut Hills have been new and informational. I have noticed how many people walk down the street in the morning, and how it is busier in the afternoon than it is in the morning. Despite this, I’ve noted the number of cars or buses stays consistent at any time of day. I like how there are a lot of activities to do around Walnut Hills and everything is within walking distance.

Cuts Plus Barbershop is the shop on the far left.

Some local destinations I’ve been able to walk to are the Walnut Hills Swim & Dive Club, the Walnut Hills Fire Department, the Walnut Hills Public Library, and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Additionally, I’ve been able to visit the following locally-owned businesses: Cuts Plus Barbershop, ETC Produce, and Burberry Nails. Lastly, Wendy’s, Chipotle, Skyline Chili, and McDonald’s are other fast food restaurants I’ve been able to walk to.

In the morning, I see the sunrise over the 1001 Colors building. I notice more people are at the Walnut Hills Public Library than at Cuts Plus Barbershop. Wendy's is usually busy at lunch during the midday rush. After work, I observe people going to the Walnut Hills Swim & Dive Club, Chipotle, Burberry Nails, and McDonalds.

Five Points Alley, where I relax in the morning before work. I can smell the pizza from here!

In the morning, I taste delightful food like sweet smoothies and crunchy cereal. In the afternoon I can taste the airy, fluffy bread of a sandwich that goes along with the lukewarm air outside. For lunch, I eat savory food like a BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich and spaghetti. There are places for people to sit down at Green Man Park and smell the flowers. On Tuesday mornings, I meditate with The Well staff at Green Man Park. On some of my walks to get food for lunch, I can smell the grainy pizza oven from Fireside Pizza, the flavorful chili from Skyline Chili, and the fresh fruit from ETC Produce.

A wild peach tree I found while interviewing people in Walnut Hills. It’s right by Skyline Chili, McDonald’s, and Chipotle.

When I first made it to Walnut Hills, I could feel the rough sensation of the ground against my feet. In the afternoon, I could feel the air hitting me like a wave. The same air carries tree leaves from their branches to the ground. In the evening, I could feel my phone ruffling against my pants in my pocket. At the same time, tall buildings around me amplify the light of the sun bouncing off other buildings and the overwhelming brightness of the sun. The fabric of my shirt flows in the breeze as I walk around the neighborhood. Decadent murals decorate the walls of the city landscape.

In conclusion, this was my first two weeks in Walnut Hills and how I experienced the world through my five senses. From people I got to interview and talk with, I learned what the community members' five senses mean to them. It is important to learn from different people's stories rather than just having a singular, closed-off perspective. Other people’s perspective of safety is different, and they have varied ideas of how their sense of touch, sight, taste, sound, and smell shape what safety means to them and how they make their own safe places and communities.