Nena and Equis

This is our first time at the kite festival, and we were surprised by the diversity in age and ethnicity among the attendees. We struggled to get our kite up, but then a random guy appeared, helped us fly it, and disappeared back into the crowd. We looked around to thank him, but we never saw him again. It was really special to have someone reach out to us like that.

Growing up low-income, public parks were crucial because they provided a free space to gather. Nowadays, their role is even more significant for kids, helping them reconnect with each other while disconnecting from the internet. Today, I watched kids design their own kites, adults too! Not everyone had the best childhood, and being able to return to your inner child with your family or chosen family is healing—it reconnects you to yourself.