This is part of a multi-part story. To view past installments, please visit Learn-Engage-Empower at im4u.world.
The sun was still strong and showed no signs of evening wane when my team showed up one evening at the recreation center to set up for our meeting with the #neighborhood. Joseph was elated that we were willing to come to see and talk with his #neighbors.
My team looked at each other and took a deep breath. Earlier the team decided the most important action we could take was to meet the people on their home turf and #listen to what they had to say. Other than that, we had nothing else to offer, only the ability to #listen.
I was keenly aware that I was a tall, white guy with gray hair. When I greeted and welcomed people, that feeling of being different vanished. People said hello, smiled and expressed gratitude that we came to their #neighborhood when no one else would. Joseph introduced me personally to several of his #neighbors.
A tall, African American fellow came around the corner of the rec center along the sidewalk. I could tell by the look on his face that he was angry. Joseph tensed up immediately, his eyes fixated on him. Joseph went to meet him. The meeting time was upon us and I went inside to join my team and get the meeting started. Moments later I heard angry shouting outside. People were crowding around the doorway. The fellow I saw earlier was trying to push his way inside. Partially inside, his eyes connected with mine and he directed his aggression at me, shouting, punching a fist in the air. I caught snippets, “get the hell out of my #neighborhood”, “you’re not welcome here”, “you ruined our #neighborhood”. Joseph told him in no uncertain terms that he would call the police and the fellow would be arrested or he could leave the meeting now. Eventually, common sense prevailed, the man left, and order was restored.
The meeting started slowly. The drama cast a quiet pall over the room. Eventually though people opened up more and more and began to share the #hardships of life in their #neighborhood. #Poverty, #crime, no opportunity, #unemployment, poor services, #drugs, #fear, #hopelessness, #hunger, #gunshots, people dying too young, no escape. No matter how many times you have heard this sorrow before, the impact on me never changes, #sadness. But there were also stories of faith, courage and #resiliency and a strength of #community bond and identity that brought people together, helping each other out with what little they had.
And I have heard this seemingly contradictory state of affairs all too often in places where people suffer. And no matter how many times you have heard this before, the impact on me never changes. I am amazed by the #human spirit. I have seen that even in some of the challenging places, there is an innate #goodness in people, and it spurs me on to work harder, to help. The #neighborhood was always facing forward I discovered, and now I was too.
We met for a few hours, listened carefully, took a lot of notes, looked into their eyes, shook hands, shared stories in the meeting after the meeting and when the last person left, the sun was long gone, the night air cool. Most people who came were grateful that we would come and listen to them and expressed hope that something would come of it. Joseph looked weary. He put his large hand on my shoulder and softly thanked me and each of my team members for coming to their #neighborhood. He apologized for his neighbor’s outburst earlier.
I was not bothered by the outburst. I learn so much from another’s anger. My personal belief is that all human #behavior is motivated at a base level by one of two elements - #love or #fear. When someone is expressing anger towards me, I try to look beyond the words and understand the underlying #fears that are motivating it. It is a technique that has helped me work through many tense situations. The angry outburst from earlier in the evening seemed to be from #fear of losing what was left of their #neighborhood and the powerlessness to prevent it from happening.
The team disbanded and went their separate ways in the night, the recreation center was locked up and Joseph and I continued to chat further in the parking lot. He pressed me to tell him what I would do next, what was my #plan, what should we do. I did not know but I did not want to tell him that. Instead, I said, let my team look at this closer and we would talk with him again in the upcoming days.
Joseph parted. I paused before I got into my car and listened to the nighttime sounds of the #neighborhood. My mind was turning, turning, as it so often does when I encounter something I do not completely comprehend. I took a deep breath, got in and prepared to drive home, only 8 miles away but worlds apart.
Next week - Part 3 - Rolling Up Our Sleeves.
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