Omg! I lived this story with you Tony….. But you tell it so well! Thanks for reminding me of where we came from! Every word and paragraph was truth and passion. I am enjoying our voyage together. We will see it through!
My hope is that communities all over our nation will consider new approaches when dealing with issues that affect the lives of their residents. When we give people the opportunity to participate in the decisions affecting their lives, everyone benefits in ways beyond measure.
I took part in the charrettes at Victoria Gardens where I was the Assistant Manager at the time. It was a very humbling experience to know that the same people that walked around as if nothing bothered them and had a ‘devil may care’ aura about them were in actuality very meek people who wanted basic help. They wanted simple things like the ability to get to their kid’s middle and high schools for conferences, plays, etc; however, the school was too far away and public transportation ended at 5:00pm. They also wanted to be able to have access to adult education so that they would have the ability to help their children with homework. I definitely took a lot away from those meetings and I am forever grateful to the Northside residents for opening up to us and allowing us to help them improve their community.
Thank you so much for telling the Northside story in your insightful and inspired voice, Tony. It is a remarkable and beautiful story that belongs on the national stage, and in the SSIR.
The Wofford students who engaged in the charrettes, or who serve as interns in the NDG office, or tutor or coach at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership, or volunteer at any other Northside community-based organizations, or who are working to build bridges between “town” and “gown,” by dismantling negative stereotypes of the Northside at Wofford gain so much from these experiences.
They are developing the capacity, habits and commitment to work collectively and collaboratively across difference to improve the quality of people’s lives. They are being prepared, in the words of Wofford’s new strategic vision, “for meaningful lives as citizens, leaders and scholars.”
They learn to understand and respond to the history, culture, assets, needs, politics, economics, and (especially) the people of a community. They develop empathy, humility, concern for the well-being of others, and the understanding that every community member brings valuable knowledge and experience to the work. They develop civic-mindedness and a clarified and reinforced understanding of their own civic identities, as well as a commitment to continued public action. They witness and participate in the power of collective action.
The world needs more people exposed to and practiced in these arts. So, I get very excited about the compounding positive effect we can have, working together with you, the Voyagers, the NDG, and the other NDG partnership organizations - over years and decades.
We thank you for the opportunity. We look forward to expanding and deepening our partnership; and accompanying and supporting you in your voyage. It is our deep honor and also our pleasure!
Jessalyn Story,
Director of Service Learning at Wofford College
Great story! My greatest concern is whether or not the current residents will remain or be removed. For many years, I have watched these “Model Cities” programs serve the interests of those who live outside the community. When the dust settles and the air clears, the original people were removed and outsiders replaced them in these “Model Cities” programs.
As for jobs, this too is a concern in view of the depression this country is attempting to climb out of since the real estate bubble burst, put millions out of work, and millions of others out of their homes. I certainly hope and pray that a way can be found to bring job opportunities into the Northside for the current residents that live there.
COMMENTS
BY Wanda Cheeks
ON May 15, 2015 05:02 AM
Omg! I lived this story with you Tony….. But you tell it so well! Thanks for reminding me of where we came from! Every word and paragraph was truth and passion. I am enjoying our voyage together. We will see it through!
BY TonyThomas
ON May 15, 2015 05:03 AM
My hope is that communities all over our nation will consider new approaches when dealing with issues that affect the lives of their residents. When we give people the opportunity to participate in the decisions affecting their lives, everyone benefits in ways beyond measure.
BY Shanna D. Frazier
ON May 15, 2015 09:15 AM
I took part in the charrettes at Victoria Gardens where I was the Assistant Manager at the time. It was a very humbling experience to know that the same people that walked around as if nothing bothered them and had a ‘devil may care’ aura about them were in actuality very meek people who wanted basic help. They wanted simple things like the ability to get to their kid’s middle and high schools for conferences, plays, etc; however, the school was too far away and public transportation ended at 5:00pm. They also wanted to be able to have access to adult education so that they would have the ability to help their children with homework. I definitely took a lot away from those meetings and I am forever grateful to the Northside residents for opening up to us and allowing us to help them improve their community.
BY Elizabeth Marcuse
ON May 15, 2015 10:13 AM
Wow! This is such an amazing and inspiring story of community change. Thank you for sharing and keep up the amazing work!
BY Jessalyn Story
ON May 18, 2015 10:32 AM
Thank you so much for telling the Northside story in your insightful and inspired voice, Tony. It is a remarkable and beautiful story that belongs on the national stage, and in the SSIR.
The Wofford students who engaged in the charrettes, or who serve as interns in the NDG office, or tutor or coach at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership, or volunteer at any other Northside community-based organizations, or who are working to build bridges between “town” and “gown,” by dismantling negative stereotypes of the Northside at Wofford gain so much from these experiences.
They are developing the capacity, habits and commitment to work collectively and collaboratively across difference to improve the quality of people’s lives. They are being prepared, in the words of Wofford’s new strategic vision, “for meaningful lives as citizens, leaders and scholars.”
They learn to understand and respond to the history, culture, assets, needs, politics, economics, and (especially) the people of a community. They develop empathy, humility, concern for the well-being of others, and the understanding that every community member brings valuable knowledge and experience to the work. They develop civic-mindedness and a clarified and reinforced understanding of their own civic identities, as well as a commitment to continued public action. They witness and participate in the power of collective action.
The world needs more people exposed to and practiced in these arts. So, I get very excited about the compounding positive effect we can have, working together with you, the Voyagers, the NDG, and the other NDG partnership organizations - over years and decades.
We thank you for the opportunity. We look forward to expanding and deepening our partnership; and accompanying and supporting you in your voyage. It is our deep honor and also our pleasure!
Jessalyn Story,
Director of Service Learning at Wofford College
BY Wes Bernard
ON June 4, 2015 12:56 AM
Great story! My greatest concern is whether or not the current residents will remain or be removed. For many years, I have watched these “Model Cities” programs serve the interests of those who live outside the community. When the dust settles and the air clears, the original people were removed and outsiders replaced them in these “Model Cities” programs.
As for jobs, this too is a concern in view of the depression this country is attempting to climb out of since the real estate bubble burst, put millions out of work, and millions of others out of their homes. I certainly hope and pray that a way can be found to bring job opportunities into the Northside for the current residents that live there.
I will watch, warily.