Brownsville Bred is an anthology series whose stories reveal the many pitfalls of generational poverty--and the inherent traps in high-crime areas for young people of color. Our first story spans the 1980's and decade-long coming-of-age journey of Elaine--a spunky, soulful, Puerto Rican girl living with her Mom, Dad, and three half-siblings in the welfare projects of Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. We first meet Elaine at eight years old. She is the narrator of her story and introduces us to her family and environment. Despite living in poverty, through Elaine's young eyes, life is perfect. Her best friends are her father, Manny-- an aspiring salsa singer/musician who works as a public school janitor. And her intellectually disabled, Aunt Elizabeth-- whose severe asthma makes her wheelchair dependent. In a life filled with dichotomy, Elaine is often responsible for keeping watch over her Aunt Elizabeth (twenty years her senior). Like many growing up in crime-ridden neighborhoods, Elaine is part naive, desensitized, and keenly aware of the dangers around her. Grim realities crystalize when the police arrive at the family home and uncover life-changing circumstances.