I was asked to sketch Jane Jacobs to accompany an article about her. I had never heard of Jane Jacobs. I thought the portrait photo provided for reference depicted a “sweet lady”. Well, you can’t judge a book by its cover folks.
Turns out she was instrumental, if not responsible entirely, for determining what an urban neighborhood should be. Can’t do that by being sweet. Though, I suspect she did have an entirely good heart, convictions, and character.
She did this through actively and aggressively addressing the concerns of herself and her neighbors in Greenwich Village, N.Y. during a time when urban renewal and development moguls had their eye on the area; with different ideas than hers.
Look her up on Google. It’s a lesson in perseverance and what it can achieve; certainly pertinent to any endeavor one may undertake, large or small.
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