City of
Neighborhoods.
Sadly, for
this event I was unable to stay for the workshops which were, undoubtedly,
inspiring. BUT what I can say is the morning was full of amazing speakers with
grand ideas and even grander intentions to make those ideas a reality.
Each and every
neighborhood is composed of retail spots, restaurants, neighbors, clinics,
entertainment hubs, parks, markets. Or at least they should be. Why is it
necessary to drive 10-20-40 minutes to spend your money and find what you need?
The day began
with speaker Jim Diers (author of
"Neighborhood Power". He was a ball of energy. Enthusiastic.
Hopeful. And why shouldn't he be?
He talked of
"bumping places". (Frost Park and the weekly Frost Park Chalk Off is a GREAT
example)
Central
locations in a community where members can meet up, grow relationships, find
common ground and build a sense of community identity.
Think about
it.
How often do
we not even know the people living in the house directly next door, let alone
down the block?
People used to
live in a time where they didn't lock their doors, saw each other at church
each week, city hall meetings and PTA groups were common practice.
Now we all
work too much, it's a go go go mentality that leaves no room for building a
relationship with others in our community.
This leaves us
suspicious and weary of others. Judgmental. Closed off.
Right?
The rest of the speakers
included:
The phrase used through-out
the peaked my interest was "collective intention".
Here we were,
a group of individuals from different neighborhoods here to discuss ideas as a
whole. Build a network. Inspire each other. Bottom Up action.
COLLECTIVE
INTENTION.
We are in this
together.
Thank you to Patricia Lecy Davis, Justin Mayfield
and everyone
involved.
I'm looking
forward to more of this~