The Refinement of Park Hill: Kareem Woods’ Mission

Staten Island is the most underrated borough of New York City. That is an actual fact. Often referred to as “the forgotten borough,” Staten Island has its bouts of historical moments often overlooked unless affiliated with a specific level of fame or demographic of beings. Kareem Woods, founder of the K Woods Foundation, puts a spin on this narrative with his new initiative. Progressive in nature, Woods plans to rebuild Park Hill, one of Staten Island’s most underprivileged neighborhoods—an act that is bound to be historic.

Park Hill is globally avowed for two things: its overwhelming Liberian population and its stance as the stomping ground of three-fourths of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, specifically members Method Man, Cappadonna, Raekwon, RZA, U-God, and Inspectah Deck. As depicted in the Hulu drama series Wu-Tang: An American Saga, the Park Hill neighborhood bears a substantial amount of gang and drug-related activity that is still active today.

With a particular focus on areas bound to the Park Hill Apartments, a privately owned but federally supported cipher, the site is a product of the global urban renewal scheme of the 1950s and the crack epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. The urban renewal scheme dismantled the area’s once-standing middle class after constructing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge made way in the 1960s. This encouraged New Yorkers from the accompanying boroughs to make way into cost-effective living in the six-story Park Hill Apartment buildings. The crack era established the area’s crime-infested identity as occupants sought after struggles through use and survival.

A native of Park Hill, Kareem Woods, is currently manifesting his own neighborhood redevelopment. On Thursday, September 30, Woods hosted the First Annual K Woods Foundation Community Center Fundraiser at the Li Greci’s Staaten on Forest Ave in Staten Island. The gala was envoyed by Wu-Tang Clan legend Ghostface Killah with a special guest appearance and lively performance by hip-hop icon Slick Rick.

“I’m from Park Hill. I’m from the grain. I’m forty-four years old. I’ve been there,” Woods tells Rich Black Earth in an exclusive interview. “I used to sell drugs and do the things that weren’t good. Now, I did a 360. Since I’ve been back, because I am in the music industry as well, I’ve seen these kids just suffering with nothing to do. The only thing they are seeing are drug dealers, robbing, stealing….”

The fundraiser was designated for Woods’ plan to build a community center in Park Hill’s most populous corners featuring the vicinity of 55 Bowen Street and between the buildings of 185 Parkhill Avenue and 225 Parkhill Avenue. With a sole focus on Park Hill youth, the center will focus on STEM-related resources. The center is expected to be a 16,000 square foot space that will include an art, dance, and music recording studio, classrooms, a 30 seat tech room filled with computers, a game room, lounge, conference room, and cafeteria, which will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Woods also plans to revamp the basketball court and playground stationed between 185 Parkhill Avenue and 225 Parkhill Ave.

“Me building this community center will help a lot of kids, and they will learn a lot. There is nothing going on out there. There is nothing in Park Hill. So for us to have a community center is a blessing. We want to teach the kids the right thing. That is my main objective,” said Woods.

Affectionally called “Uncle K,” Woods understands the importance of contributing to the growth and development of the youth as they as the keys to the future of our communities. Woods’ initiative is the first attempt at refining the Staten Island North Shore neighborhood as accompanying neighborhoods, including Stapleton and Port Richmond, have managed community centers through the aid of the city of New York.

What makes Woods’ effort so historic is its reality of being privately owned and headed by an African-American male in a borough that is dominantly 59.6% white, according to the 2020 census count. It also states the population of the black race on Staten Island has remained stable over the past decade standing at 10.5%.

“Teach the kids. The youth is everything. Our babies is everything. It ain’t even about us. It ain’t about me. It’s about the kids. They need somewhere to go. They need somewhere to learn. Half of these kids don’t even have the right role models. I want to be that role model.”

Woods commented on how he is looking forward to the children of Park Hill to reach their spouts of triumph and return to show their gratitude for the community center. This act would solidify the legacy of the K Woods Foundation.

For Staten Island natives, there is an expectation for any notable person from the borough to support a progressive cause. The gala was attended by notables of the New York City political scene, including Staten Island borough president candidate Mark Murphy, Democratic New York City Council District 49 candidate Kamillah Hanks, NYC Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo, and former New York City Council candidate and Cornerstone Director of the Carter Center Ranti Ogunleye.

Needless to say, the support of figures from the music industry is undoubtedly an inevitable expectation as Woods is also known to be a multi-faceted music industry professional who owns and operates his own recording label. Earlier this year, Woods organized the inaugural Staten Island Peace and Unity Festival headline by Ja Rule, Ashanti, Wu-Tang Clan, and Redman. When asked about Wu-Tang Clan’s role in his initiative, Woods explained to Rich Black Earth that members are always on board to contribute whenever needed as a family-based approach.

“Wu-Tang don’t play a role in this, but they play a role in this,” said Woods. “When I say that, I mean those are my brothers. Those are my blood brothers like family. They are always going to play a part. But right now, it’s me. It’s the K Woods Foundation. If I need them, they there.”

The K Woods Foundation also presented honors to progressive community members with honorees, including longtime community advocate Barbara Walton, founders of True 2 Life Malcolm Penn and Mike Perry, and the men of nonprofit organization Brothers Care Inc.

During the pandemic, the K Woods Foundation took one hundred and twenty children to Seasame Place, Bear Mountain, and Splish Splash, expanding their souls to a profound experience. The foundation also took time to support youth directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, mainly those who lost a close loved one, to aid in the maintenance and growth of their personal strength.

Kareem Woods’ effort to refine Park Hill is an act that documents the importance of recycling your mind, time, and money into worthy matters. The area has yet to witness a significant change. With the wealth of movers and shakers on the island, alongside the evolution of technology, it is absolutely possible to invoke a goal to reshape the impoverished areas where our people dwell.

“I am just trying to make peace and unity for the kids. They need it. We don’t have any outlets out there. I am just someone that is trying to bring that outlet to the community.”