The Collector of Bedford Street

Bedford Street Map

Street Map: Film director Alice Elliott welcomes you.
Movie Theater: - Information on the film including awards, press, and screening dates.
Larry's Home: - Meet "The Collector" Larry Selman.
Larry’s Neighbors: - Learn how this NYC community helped Larry.
Outside the Neighborhood: Learn how to find and create community support.

Director Alice Elliott welcomes you to Bedford Street, home of Larry “The Collector” Selman. Use the interactive map above to find out more about the film.

	Movie Theater The making of the film.
	Larry's Home Get to know The Collector of Bedford Street.
	Larry's Neighbors Find out how Larry's neighbors established his trust fund.
	Outside Learn how to change to your neighborhood.

Larry's Neighbors: The BBC Block Association

LARRY'S NEIGHBORS

Without the efforts of the Bedford-Barrow-Commerce (BBC) Block Association, Larry would not have a secure future in his New York neighborhood, and The Collector of Bedford Street would not have been made. The BBC rallied behind Larry to establish his trust fund, and helped raise the money necessary for The Collector of Bedford Street to finish production. This kind of community involvement is quite rare, however community involvement has been the BBC's longstanding tradition.

Nearly thirty years ago, the BBC Block Association started when a group of neighbors had grown tired of the dog defecation overwhelming their sidewalks. They decided to lobby dog owners to clean up after their pets. Soon after the sidewalks were clean, and the neighbors were inspired to improve their community even more.

Larry and neighbors manning the Benefit Table at the BBC street fair.

Initially, the BBC improved the community by raising money for neighborhood beautification projects such as planting trees. Eventually the community's fundraising efforts left the BBC with a surplus, and they decided to add a new approach to improving the community. Half of the money they would raise would go to neighborhood beautification and block association operating costs, and the other half would go to non-profit groups within their community.

Over the years, the BBC has given over $125,000 to charities within the neighborhood community, thanks in part to Larry's fundraising. Larry has been a member of the BBC since the first meeting to clean up the sidewalks. The community welcomed him as an equal, and treated him with respect and dignity. Rather than focus on what he couldn't contribute, the BBC members chose to give Larry an outlet for his fundraising talents, which have been an asset to the organization for thirty years.

Larry's dutiful service to his community compelled the members of the BBC to sponsor his trust fund. After making such an impact within the community, the BBC felt Larry needed to remain in the community for as long as desired, which he says is for the rest of his life.