Robert Camacho

I was 13 or 14, we used to play music in Kosciusko Park. We’d bring our turntables, mixers at night. We had D.J. equipment but one needed electricity to run it. So we stole electricity by tapping into the pole – the light pole. We connected extension cord wire to the light pole for our D.J. equipment.It was rough but we had our own. I was shot at, and stabbed. I wasn’t scared of dying. I wasn’t scared of anything.

My parents used to say I wasn’t going to make it to see 15. All of my friends from back then, out of 15 or 20, not many left, dead of AIDS or on drugs.

As a kid, I felt in my life, community involvement. Everybody helping each other. Been in Bushwick all my life. Had so much fun here and seen so many changes.

Why do I work with the community? We have to take care of where we live. I want to show my kids I’m not a failure. You have your ups and downs but you make it through. They have to know that.