| Lehman College, the only public senior college in the Bronx, had close to 7,000 undergraduates in 2000, 48 percent of whom were of Hispanic origin. The Bronx is the third most densely populated county in the nation. Its highly diverse population, 79 percent of whom are people of color, speak a variety of languages and follow cultural beliefs that challenge traditional social service networks. The Bronx was New York City's first borough to have a majority of minorities.
Lehman College, located in northwest Bronx, is surrounded by three low- and middle-income neighborhoods: Norwood, Bedford Park, and Kingsbridge Heights. These working-class neighborhoods, which have long been stable neighborhoods with good housing stock and some attractive school options, are now undergoing stress as a result of a huge population turnover. In the past 10 years, immigrants from such diverse countries as Albania, Bangladesh, and Mexico have settled in the Bronx. Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population grew by over 21,600, the African-American population grew by 5,800, and the White population declined by 18,700 people or 49 percent. Currently 129,660 residents live in the three contiguous neighborhoods, an area of little more than one square mile. The population, which grew by nearly 13,000 throughout the past 10 years, is now 57 percent Hispanic, 18 percent African-American, 15 percent White, and 7 percent Asian.
Bronx residents are poorer than residents in most communities across the nation. Although 30 percent of the total population of the Bronx lives at or below the federal poverty level, 55 percent of Bronx families with children are at or below poverty level. The average age of residents has decreased, with some 29 percent of the total Bronx population below the age of 18. At Kennedy High School in the Bronx, student performance was worse than that of students in all New York City high schools in 2000. The average SAT score was not high enough for acceptance by a competitive college. An increase in violence among teenagers from 1999 to 2000 suggests an increase in tension among local youths. The area has only two agencies providing youth programs. There are no significant parks or playgrounds and few local recreation sites other than an under-used reservoir.
The area lacks other basic services, as well. Small stores that charge high prices predominate, forcing residents to pay more than they should or go out of the neighborhood. When residents leave the neighborhood to bank and to shop, jobs and buying power go with them. Immigrant merchants who speak little English cannot take advantage of services to improve their businesses. Lehman College's economic development and youth worker training programs are intended to address some of these problems.
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