Ayesha Roscoe

It's also, for Xavier and Jasmine, kind of like their backyard, where they can go anytime they need to recharge and remember what really matters, to be in community. For me, that place is actually a house. Two doors down from my house. It's the home of my dear friend and neighbor, Miss Venetta. I've lived in my neighborhood for 15 years now. All my kids were born here.

And we have gotten to know our neighbors very well between birthday parties and parties. And christenings and, you know, helping each other when we get stuck in the snow and and just keeping an eye on each other's kids and dogs. Yeah, that's Teddy, who's always in the window of my other next door neighbor. And Miss Venetta, she's like the heartbeat of this neighborhood for me.

And we have gotten to know our neighbors very well between birthday parties and parties. And christenings and, you know, helping each other when we get stuck in the snow and and just keeping an eye on each other's kids and dogs. Yeah, that's Teddy, who's always in the window of my other next door neighbor. And Miss Venetta, she's like the heartbeat of this neighborhood for me.

And we have gotten to know our neighbors very well between birthday parties and parties. And christenings and, you know, helping each other when we get stuck in the snow and and just keeping an eye on each other's kids and dogs. Yeah, that's Teddy, who's always in the window of my other next door neighbor. And Miss Venetta, she's like the heartbeat of this neighborhood for me.

her place is surrounded by this nice little porch. And inside, it's always kind of dimly lit. She got some outlets she got to work on. But it's a second home for my kids if they want to show her something or... Just say, hey, they'll run down the pavement between our front door and hers. If they lose a tooth, she'll have some money for them.

her place is surrounded by this nice little porch. And inside, it's always kind of dimly lit. She got some outlets she got to work on. But it's a second home for my kids if they want to show her something or... Just say, hey, they'll run down the pavement between our front door and hers. If they lose a tooth, she'll have some money for them.

her place is surrounded by this nice little porch. And inside, it's always kind of dimly lit. She got some outlets she got to work on. But it's a second home for my kids if they want to show her something or... Just say, hey, they'll run down the pavement between our front door and hers. If they lose a tooth, she'll have some money for them.

Inside her place, the news is always on, and she's always got a snack in the kitchen, maybe some pumpkin seeds for Annalise or some toast for Gabrielle or hot dogs for Reggie. And if I ever need somebody... And boy, have I needed somebody at times. She's been there. Her home has been our safe space. And it's because of that, it's so hard to imagine living anywhere else.

Inside her place, the news is always on, and she's always got a snack in the kitchen, maybe some pumpkin seeds for Annalise or some toast for Gabrielle or hot dogs for Reggie. And if I ever need somebody... And boy, have I needed somebody at times. She's been there. Her home has been our safe space. And it's because of that, it's so hard to imagine living anywhere else.

Inside her place, the news is always on, and she's always got a snack in the kitchen, maybe some pumpkin seeds for Annalise or some toast for Gabrielle or hot dogs for Reggie. And if I ever need somebody... And boy, have I needed somebody at times. She's been there. Her home has been our safe space. And it's because of that, it's so hard to imagine living anywhere else.

But I do plan on starting a fresh chapter soon. We're planning on moving in the new year. But wherever I go, I know I don't ever want to be too far from Miss Venetta. So we can stop by and visit. On today's episode of the Sunday Story, in the spirit of places that feel like home, we're going to play you a part of an episode that originally ran on NPR's Code Switch podcast.

But I do plan on starting a fresh chapter soon. We're planning on moving in the new year. But wherever I go, I know I don't ever want to be too far from Miss Venetta. So we can stop by and visit. On today's episode of the Sunday Story, in the spirit of places that feel like home, we're going to play you a part of an episode that originally ran on NPR's Code Switch podcast.

But I do plan on starting a fresh chapter soon. We're planning on moving in the new year. But wherever I go, I know I don't ever want to be too far from Miss Venetta. So we can stop by and visit. On today's episode of the Sunday Story, in the spirit of places that feel like home, we're going to play you a part of an episode that originally ran on NPR's Code Switch podcast.

It's a portrait of a community, a small slice of everyday life for the people who call Queens home. And while you listen, maybe go take a walk to one of your places and stay until the end because I have a little request for you as we go into the new year. An invitation to send in a sort of audio postcard from a place that you call your own. All that after the break.

It's a portrait of a community, a small slice of everyday life for the people who call Queens home. And while you listen, maybe go take a walk to one of your places and stay until the end because I have a little request for you as we go into the new year. An invitation to send in a sort of audio postcard from a place that you call your own. All that after the break.

It's a portrait of a community, a small slice of everyday life for the people who call Queens home. And while you listen, maybe go take a walk to one of your places and stay until the end because I have a little request for you as we go into the new year. An invitation to send in a sort of audio postcard from a place that you call your own. All that after the break.

So listeners, it's me again. Remember that walk I told you to take? Where did you go? This is our last episode of the year and we wanted to step into the new year with a question for you all. What's a special place in your life? One that you visit weekly or even daily when you feel depleted, it fills you up. It can be anywhere, your community center, your gym, a weekly singing class.

So listeners, it's me again. Remember that walk I told you to take? Where did you go? This is our last episode of the year and we wanted to step into the new year with a question for you all. What's a special place in your life? One that you visit weekly or even daily when you feel depleted, it fills you up. It can be anywhere, your community center, your gym, a weekly singing class.

So listeners, it's me again. Remember that walk I told you to take? Where did you go? This is our last episode of the year and we wanted to step into the new year with a question for you all. What's a special place in your life? One that you visit weekly or even daily when you feel depleted, it fills you up. It can be anywhere, your community center, your gym, a weekly singing class.

It might even be a very special aisle at your local grocery store. What is that place in your community that lifts you up? If you have a place like this, we want to know about it. You can send a two- to three-minute voice memo to us at upfirstsunday at npr.org. You can even include some sounds from that space. Remember, this is radio, so we love to hear good sounds.