Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where do people in your community gather or socialize?
  - How and where does your community access services (healthcare, transportation, educational services, etc.)?

Examples of activities and services: Shopping areas, schools and universities, libraries, parks, lakes, rivers, places of worship, healthcare services, public transport, local nonprofit organizations, etc.

Your response: My community is filled with many diverse eateries and shopping areas. From Italian to German to Dominican, there are restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood that have been open for years. Myrtle Avenue also intersects into this community and has many small shops that sell clothing, shoes, hardware etc.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What are the cultural bonds in your community?
  - If your community has a shared history, what is it?

Examples of cultural or historical interests: Religious groups, ethnic groups, languages, age groups, immigration status, historic or arts districts, etc.

Your response: My community is very diverse with residents of Polish, German, Italian, Puerto Rican, Chinese descent. Ridgewood is also one of the oldest neighborhoods in all of New York City and is home to over 10 historic national districts. It is filled with brick rowhouse dwellings that are apart of the central Ridgewood historic district (one of the 10 historic national districts). These houses date back to the 1890s to the 1900s.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where are residents employed?
  - If there are environmental concerns in your community, what are they?

Examples of economic or environmental interests: Tourism industry, agricultural workers, mining town, manufacturing center, polluted natural resource, unemployment problem, etc.

Your response: Ridgewood has many small businesses and family-owned stores. Many of the eateries around here are ran by families. There are a lot of blue collar workers that live in the area as well. A concern for this community is mainly problems with the housing in the area. There are many problems with utilities like heating and electricity due to the age of the houses.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What should politicians and/or map drawers know about your community?
  - What are the needs of your community?
  - Is there anything else you want to tell us about your community?

Examples of needs or concerns: Keep community in the same district or separate into multiple districts, shared policy concerns, need for a social service, relationship to other nearby communities, issues with current district lines

Your response: Ridgewood is right on the border of Queens and Brooklyn. There are a lot of cemeteries like All Faiths and Evergreen in and on the borders of Ridgewood. There are a lot of older citizens that live in this area and it has become hard for them to pay rent in their houses and get food. A lot of them benefit from senior centers and food pantries.