US Marc nurtures a passion for Glenwood
Marc Kalina is passionate about promoting people and places in his favourite suburb, Glenwood.
GLENWOOD resident Marc Kalina is a huge fan of the Durban suburb he now calls home.
Marc, who hails from Detroit, US, came to Durban to study for a PhD in development studies. As his research was in Mozambique, he opted to study at UKZN as it was the most conveniently placed university. He settled in Glenwood with his wife, Elizabeth, and says he has fallen in love with the suburb.
“I wouldn’t live anywhere else in Durban! Glenwood has the most character and soul than any other suburb in the city. I don’t think there’s any other suburb in Durban like this one, where you will see more people walking around in their neighbourhoods than anywhere else in Durban. It’s close to the CBD and is not a commuter suburb, people live and work in the area,” he said.
He said had noticed an increase in younger people and more students moving into the suburb, which he believes is good for the neighbourhood.
In testament to his passion for Glenwood, Marc and a group of friends created a facebook page dedicated to all things Glenwood called the Glenwood Collective. Marc is now the sole administrator of the page which offers a selection of articles focused on interesting people doing interesting things in Glenwood.
“I have two goals for Glenwood Collective. The first is to promote inclusive public spaces and I include articles on people who are sometimes looked passed by residents such as waste pickers, street vendors and car guards, who are also part of the community. We have some of the best public spaces in Glenwood and I feel its important to have a community where people feel and are made to feel welcome,” he said.
His second goal is to encourage links between the suburb and the CBD.
“I was struck by how close the suburb is to the CBD and how few links middle-class white people living in Glenwood have with the inner city. I aim to shine a spotlight on the cool things people can do in the CBD. You could take a walk to Grey Street in 15 minutes and go to the morning market at Warwick. People don’t take advantage of these links and connections and they should be fostered. I have written a piece on a graffiti walking tour, and believe residents should do interesting things like this outside of their suburb. Glenwood isn’t an island,” he said.
One of Marc’s favourite spots in the city is Warwick Junction. “I love the Markets of Warwick. A million people pass through there every day and people need to know it isn’t dangerous, the more people walk there, the safer it is for everyone,” he said.
Through his page, Marc said he hopes to focus on exciting places in Glenwood such as Helen Joseph Road, which he describes as a mini Florida Road.
By day, he works at the Urban Futures Centre at Durban University of Technology and is currently working on a project in Albert Park. He also does work in Mozambique.
When he isn’t working or writing for Glenwood Collective, he takes time out to run and his personal hobby is brewing his own beer at home. “I like to walk around the city as well, and I’m lucky as my work is flexible,” he said.
