Sparral Bracey, May 4th, 2024
Title
Sparral Bracey, May 4th, 2024
Description
In this interview, Sparral Bracey talks about the Manistique Community Treehouse Center and the flooding in Jefferson Chalmers.
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Rights
Detroit Historical Society
Language
en-US
Narrator/Interviewee's Name
Sparral Bracey
Brief Biography
Sparral Bracey has lived in the Jefferson Chalmers area since the 1990s. She works as a clerk for the City of Detroit, and volunteers with the Manistique Treehouse Center.
Interviewer's Name
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo
Date
5/04/2024
Interview Length
10:52
Transcription
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo. It's May 4th, 2024 and I'm here with—
Sparral Bracey: Sparral Bracey.
DLT:. Please spell your name.
SB: S as in Sam, P as in Peter, A as in Apple, R as in red, R as in red, A as an apple, L as in Larry. Bracey. B as in boy, R as in red, A as in Apple, C as in cat, E is in every, Y as in yellow.
DLT: Okay, thank you very much. So do you live in the city of Detroit?
SB: Yes I do.
DLT: What neighborhood do you live in?
SB: I live in the Jefferson and Chalmers neighborhood.
DLT: How long have you lived in Detroit?
SB: All my life. [Laughter]
DLT: Have you always lived in Jefferson Chalmers?
SB: No. I've only lived in this community about 30 years.
DLT: Did you live in other neighborhoods in Detroit before then?
SB: Yes, I have.
DLT: What were those neighborhoods?
SB: I don't know if they had, like, a community neighborhood name, but it was like Theodore and Moran area and Dubois and Leland area.
DLT: Okay. Thank you. And do you work in the city of Detroit?
SB: Yes, I do work for the city of Detroit, [Laughter] live in the city of Detroit.
DLT: What do you do for the city of Detroit?
SB: I am a clerk.
DLT: What's your involvement with the Treehouse Center?
SB: Oh, well, I do, I've been doing volunteer work there ever since the pandemic. So that's mainly my involvement with that. Whenever Tammy needs help and if I'm available, I usually volunteer.
DLT: And how did you kind of get involved in the first place?
SB: Because I didn't want to be lazy. [Laughter] That's really the only reason I wanted, I didn't want to be lazy, so I volunteered.
DLT: And were you referred to it, or did you hear about it on your own?
SB: I probably heard about it on my own. By me being, you know, going to a lot of the community meetings, that's how I met Tammy. And that's how I started my volunteer work.
DLT: And what kind of volunteer work do you do?
SB: Well, I started out delivery of food. And working in the Treehouse area as far as planning of the vegetables and the flowers and whatnot.
DLT: Can you tell me a little bit more about your work with the flowers and the gardening?
SB: Actually no. Dirt, worms and bugs. [Laughter]
DLT: And have you been involved at all in the Treehouse’s efforts to deal with the effects of flooding?
SB: Oh, yes. Yes, yes. I have been coming to the flood meetings and describing, you know, what's been happening with my particular house. And going just to the meetings and hearing about how to get some help and how it’s affected other people in their homes.
DLT: Can you tell me a little bit about some of the things you tend to hear at those meetings?
SB: Well. The basements are mainly the problem, you know, with the back, you know, the water backing up and you have the filth and what not to breathe backing up into the homes and the water not going down fast enough. And each time it rains, there's some in some homes, there's a reoccurrence of the flood and how it kind of cost you a lot of money to replace a lot of things, because there's not as much help given to people as said.
DLT: So what do you, what are some of those gaps you've noticed between what's actually given to people and what's said about what's given to people?
SB: Well, at my house in particular, for some reason, there’s still a small backup of water. My basement needs to be recleaned. But I've been lucky, I never, I haven't had to replace my furnace and my water heaters. But, you know, I still deal a little bit with mold and mildew and stuff like that because there's continuous back up, so to speak. But I can't say it’s like five inches or anything like that, but it's enough that I know that my basement is still moist.
DLT: And what would you say are the biggest needs of people dealing with flooding? Like what needs to be done about that?
SB: About the flooding? Well, this is no fault of our own. The people who are in charge should take more of an initiative in the effort to fix things and help the citizens out and stop not blaming themselves when they’re to blame.
DLT: And are you involved with the Treehouse's solar efforts?
SB: Yes and no. You know, I go to the solar meetings, but I haven't made a decision about putting solar on my house. And that's because the rain has been so bad. My roof has a lot of faults. And so it wouldn't make sense to put solar on the roof. And, you know, eventually it's going to fall through. And then that responsibility is going to be on me like it still is to replace my roof.
DLT: And would you say that the flooding issue and the rain issue have gotten worse over time, or have they stayed around the same since you've been here?
SB: Well, as far as the rain goes, it's not that bad. But because nothing has been repaired on my roof, it makes it seem like it's, you know, worse. And I just can't seem to get the help that I need.
DLT: And if the city could do one thing to try to deal with this issue, what would you want them to do? Is there any particular kind of infrastructure they could put in?
SB: Well, I guess in a way, the powers that be with the city says, you know, they're working on infrastructure. But as far as I can tell, they need human beings to be at the pumping station to do whatever they need to do when the rain comes as heavy as it comes.
DLT: And what has been the community response, from what you've noticed, to the Treehouse’s efforts?
SB: Well, most people who are involved in the community sees that Tammy's Treehouse community is really trying to put things in place to get people help. And to give them knowledge about, you know, what's going on in the neighborhood.
DLT: And does the organization, from what you've noticed, attempt to educate people about climate change and other issues like that?
SB: Yes, yes, we're just starting to get into that. So, I can't really elaborate on it because I've only been to one meeting about it, but there's more meetings coming up and then I’ll know more about climate change.
DLT: And are there any other upcoming projects that will be, that you're working on?
SB: Well, my only project now is trying to figure out where to get the resources to help repair my roof. And also, you know, to do something about the basement.
DLT: And, do you know much about the Treehouse’s partnership with the National Weather Service?
SB: Well, I know they have partnered with them. And then we do have an upcoming meeting, and that's mostly what I can say about.
DLT: And what about other partners of the organization?
SB: I'm not understanding.
DLT: Any other organizations that the Treehouse works with?
SB: They probably work with several organizations. The head of that is Tammy. She's always involved with different organizations. To help out our community, and she also helps out other communities.
DLT: And if there could be, like one dream project that the Treehouse could do, what would you want that to be?
SB: Now, if you ask them for me individually. That would be to help get my roof repaired. [Laughter] And as far as the neighborhood, just a beautification.
DLT: Like in terms of greening, in terms of art?
SB: Well. In terms of everything. I won't limit anything, just whatever comes up, but it's a benefit. I would agree with you, but I do love the murals that they paint.
DLT: Have there been a lot of murals appearing in your neighborhood recently?
SB: Yes.
DLT: Are there any particular ones that stand out to you?
SB: Well there’s one on Jefferson, which actually has Tammy on there. And then there's one on, I think it's a LeMay between Jefferson and Mack. And I think those have been nice.
DLT: And were there any final thoughts you wanted to share about these environmental challenges and the Treehouse’s efforts or anything?
SB: No, I don't know. Not at the moment, I have no thoughts.
DLT: Okay, then. Thank you very much for your time. That was all the questions I had.
SB: Okay. Thank you so much.
Sparral Bracey: Sparral Bracey.
DLT:. Please spell your name.
SB: S as in Sam, P as in Peter, A as in Apple, R as in red, R as in red, A as an apple, L as in Larry. Bracey. B as in boy, R as in red, A as in Apple, C as in cat, E is in every, Y as in yellow.
DLT: Okay, thank you very much. So do you live in the city of Detroit?
SB: Yes I do.
DLT: What neighborhood do you live in?
SB: I live in the Jefferson and Chalmers neighborhood.
DLT: How long have you lived in Detroit?
SB: All my life. [Laughter]
DLT: Have you always lived in Jefferson Chalmers?
SB: No. I've only lived in this community about 30 years.
DLT: Did you live in other neighborhoods in Detroit before then?
SB: Yes, I have.
DLT: What were those neighborhoods?
SB: I don't know if they had, like, a community neighborhood name, but it was like Theodore and Moran area and Dubois and Leland area.
DLT: Okay. Thank you. And do you work in the city of Detroit?
SB: Yes, I do work for the city of Detroit, [Laughter] live in the city of Detroit.
DLT: What do you do for the city of Detroit?
SB: I am a clerk.
DLT: What's your involvement with the Treehouse Center?
SB: Oh, well, I do, I've been doing volunteer work there ever since the pandemic. So that's mainly my involvement with that. Whenever Tammy needs help and if I'm available, I usually volunteer.
DLT: And how did you kind of get involved in the first place?
SB: Because I didn't want to be lazy. [Laughter] That's really the only reason I wanted, I didn't want to be lazy, so I volunteered.
DLT: And were you referred to it, or did you hear about it on your own?
SB: I probably heard about it on my own. By me being, you know, going to a lot of the community meetings, that's how I met Tammy. And that's how I started my volunteer work.
DLT: And what kind of volunteer work do you do?
SB: Well, I started out delivery of food. And working in the Treehouse area as far as planning of the vegetables and the flowers and whatnot.
DLT: Can you tell me a little bit more about your work with the flowers and the gardening?
SB: Actually no. Dirt, worms and bugs. [Laughter]
DLT: And have you been involved at all in the Treehouse’s efforts to deal with the effects of flooding?
SB: Oh, yes. Yes, yes. I have been coming to the flood meetings and describing, you know, what's been happening with my particular house. And going just to the meetings and hearing about how to get some help and how it’s affected other people in their homes.
DLT: Can you tell me a little bit about some of the things you tend to hear at those meetings?
SB: Well. The basements are mainly the problem, you know, with the back, you know, the water backing up and you have the filth and what not to breathe backing up into the homes and the water not going down fast enough. And each time it rains, there's some in some homes, there's a reoccurrence of the flood and how it kind of cost you a lot of money to replace a lot of things, because there's not as much help given to people as said.
DLT: So what do you, what are some of those gaps you've noticed between what's actually given to people and what's said about what's given to people?
SB: Well, at my house in particular, for some reason, there’s still a small backup of water. My basement needs to be recleaned. But I've been lucky, I never, I haven't had to replace my furnace and my water heaters. But, you know, I still deal a little bit with mold and mildew and stuff like that because there's continuous back up, so to speak. But I can't say it’s like five inches or anything like that, but it's enough that I know that my basement is still moist.
DLT: And what would you say are the biggest needs of people dealing with flooding? Like what needs to be done about that?
SB: About the flooding? Well, this is no fault of our own. The people who are in charge should take more of an initiative in the effort to fix things and help the citizens out and stop not blaming themselves when they’re to blame.
DLT: And are you involved with the Treehouse's solar efforts?
SB: Yes and no. You know, I go to the solar meetings, but I haven't made a decision about putting solar on my house. And that's because the rain has been so bad. My roof has a lot of faults. And so it wouldn't make sense to put solar on the roof. And, you know, eventually it's going to fall through. And then that responsibility is going to be on me like it still is to replace my roof.
DLT: And would you say that the flooding issue and the rain issue have gotten worse over time, or have they stayed around the same since you've been here?
SB: Well, as far as the rain goes, it's not that bad. But because nothing has been repaired on my roof, it makes it seem like it's, you know, worse. And I just can't seem to get the help that I need.
DLT: And if the city could do one thing to try to deal with this issue, what would you want them to do? Is there any particular kind of infrastructure they could put in?
SB: Well, I guess in a way, the powers that be with the city says, you know, they're working on infrastructure. But as far as I can tell, they need human beings to be at the pumping station to do whatever they need to do when the rain comes as heavy as it comes.
DLT: And what has been the community response, from what you've noticed, to the Treehouse’s efforts?
SB: Well, most people who are involved in the community sees that Tammy's Treehouse community is really trying to put things in place to get people help. And to give them knowledge about, you know, what's going on in the neighborhood.
DLT: And does the organization, from what you've noticed, attempt to educate people about climate change and other issues like that?
SB: Yes, yes, we're just starting to get into that. So, I can't really elaborate on it because I've only been to one meeting about it, but there's more meetings coming up and then I’ll know more about climate change.
DLT: And are there any other upcoming projects that will be, that you're working on?
SB: Well, my only project now is trying to figure out where to get the resources to help repair my roof. And also, you know, to do something about the basement.
DLT: And, do you know much about the Treehouse’s partnership with the National Weather Service?
SB: Well, I know they have partnered with them. And then we do have an upcoming meeting, and that's mostly what I can say about.
DLT: And what about other partners of the organization?
SB: I'm not understanding.
DLT: Any other organizations that the Treehouse works with?
SB: They probably work with several organizations. The head of that is Tammy. She's always involved with different organizations. To help out our community, and she also helps out other communities.
DLT: And if there could be, like one dream project that the Treehouse could do, what would you want that to be?
SB: Now, if you ask them for me individually. That would be to help get my roof repaired. [Laughter] And as far as the neighborhood, just a beautification.
DLT: Like in terms of greening, in terms of art?
SB: Well. In terms of everything. I won't limit anything, just whatever comes up, but it's a benefit. I would agree with you, but I do love the murals that they paint.
DLT: Have there been a lot of murals appearing in your neighborhood recently?
SB: Yes.
DLT: Are there any particular ones that stand out to you?
SB: Well there’s one on Jefferson, which actually has Tammy on there. And then there's one on, I think it's a LeMay between Jefferson and Mack. And I think those have been nice.
DLT: And were there any final thoughts you wanted to share about these environmental challenges and the Treehouse’s efforts or anything?
SB: No, I don't know. Not at the moment, I have no thoughts.
DLT: Okay, then. Thank you very much for your time. That was all the questions I had.
SB: Okay. Thank you so much.
Collection
Citation
“Sparral Bracey, May 4th, 2024,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed February 10, 2025, https://oralhistory.detroithistorical.org/items/show/1012.