Nina Tucker, forever student, educator and writer, is the program coordinator at Sky High Farm. She also works with Upstate Color, an initiative to create spaces for BIPOC people in the Hudson Valley area.

Kingston Wire: How did you or your family come to Kingston?

Nina Tucker: I came to Kingston by way of a pipeline. I went to New Paltz in 2015 for college by way of Westchester and then moved to Kingston after I got my graduate degree to be closer to work.

KW: What do you like about Kingston?

NT: I like that there’s so many different facets to the city. I love that I can walk outside of my crib and see people who look like me, and that feels very modern while simultaneously, the city so evidently shows the many eras of people that live here. It’s cool that there’s history here, like the historical houses in the Stockade District, but there’s also a lot of modern people and people who have been here for a long time.

KW: What would you change about Kingston?

NT: Rent prices. Other than that, I’d change nothing about the city, I just wish that people were outside more. The local community and people that are from here are good about being on their porch and talking to people but there’s a separation between people who are from here and people who aren’t who just stay inside.

KW: How do you think Kingston is going to be different in 10 years?

NT: I think in 10 years Kingston is going to see a lot of development, some for better and some for worse. What I hope is that there’s an increase in supporting this place as an ever-growing city. Historically it’s had so many ebbs and flows, but in time I hope it’s more consistent so it makes people who live here want to stay and see value in the city.