Building - and repairing - beautiful cities at Habitat Lehigh Valley

Gina Loiacono
Community Engagement Manager, Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley
gina@habitatlv.org

Like many people, I listen to music...a lot. All kinds...all genres… and my family would say that my music tastes are pretty eclectic. My favorite part of listening to popular music is when the lyrics + the music + real life relatability all come together to create a perfect human experience. Well, imagine my surprise when a song from a dated Broadway musical hit me over the head one day with that awesome combination on the way to work in the morning.

When Stephen Schwartz sat down to write the lyrics for “Beautiful City,” I’m absolutely certain he had no idea it would become a piece of music that would withstand the test of time. And there’s no way he could possibly have predicted that, later, it would go on to be used and rewritten in various ways to honor the victims of such significant events as the 1993 race riots in Los Angeles or the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center on that fated September day.

However, I’d really like to let Mr. Schwartz in on a little secret: his original 1973 lyrics speak very clearly to the heart and mission of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley...and the beauty that is our very own Lehigh Valley area. Thanks, Stephen.

Take a look at this excerpt:

Come sing me sweet rejoicing
Come sing me love
We're not afraid of voicing
All the things
We're dreaming of
Oh, high and low,
And everywhere we go

We can build
A beautiful city
Yes we can
Oh yes we can
We can build
A beautiful city
Call it out
And call it the city of man

We don't need alabaster
We don't need chrome
We've got our special plaster
Take my hand (Take my hand)
I'll take you home (I'll take you home!)
We see nations rise
In each other's eyes (in each other's eyes!)

We can build (we can build)
A beautiful city (a beautiful city)
Yes we can
Oh yes we can
We can build (we can build)
A beautiful city (a beautiful city)
Call it out
And call it the city of man
· “Beautiful City,” music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, 1973

Read those lyrics again. Seriously. When carefully examined, these lyrics absolutely illuminate our community’s call to action in the Lehigh Valley to build affordable, safe, reliable housing for hardworking local families. At Habitat Lehigh Valley, we partner with local families to build strength, stability, and self-reliance...we build sturdy, safe, new construction style homes that allow new homeowners to build dreams and futures. (“We’re not afraid of voicing all the things we’re dreaming of…”) Building dreams and futures sure does sound like building beautiful cities, doesn’t it?

But, do you know what else we do at Habitat Lehigh Valley? We repair that currently existing beautiful city, too. In conjunction with Allentown homeowners under the 80% area median income and our newly invigorated Repair Program, Habitat Lehigh Valley is able to extend the call to build dreams and futures by repairing home exterior issues such as security, safety, and weatherization in the Jordan Heights area of Allentown surrounding St. Luke’s Hospital Sacred Heart Campus. Together, we address critical repair needs, ensure the ability to age in place in the comfort of a loved living environment, and afford current Allentown homeowners the opportunity to have their home shine once again. We don’t only build homes, but we also make sure that families can stay in their homes for many years to come. Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley knows that with homeownership comes great joy and stability. However, we also know that it also comes with great responsibility, long-term maintenance needs, and financial demand.

The Habitat Lehigh Valley Repair Program seeks to partner with local organizations, corporations, businesses, and the homeowners themselves to remove the blight that often burdens residents with costly repair bills. When every member of the local community comes together to shine a light on the needs of others and instantly jumps in to help, we will see “nations rise.” We won’t be “afraid of voicing all the things we’re dreaming of” as community residents and homeowners, because we are supporting each other surrounded by the very heart of our beloved Allentown. And while we “don’t need alabaster or chrome,” we do need vital support from donors and advocates for this tremendous program. With your help, we “can - indeed - build a beautiful city.” Help Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley today…”take our hand, and we’ll take you home”...where you are safe, secure, and settled in the comfort of your home for a bright and promising future.

If you or someone you know within the Jordan Heights area contained in the map below would benefit from this program, please contact Brenda Strockyj, Program Director, at brenda@habitatlv.org or 610 776 7737, ext. 300.

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