Looking For More

When you believe you have seen or heard it all, something out of the bizarre occurs and it leaves you wondering what just happen.  It also sets the stage to what might transpire next.  It is worth noting that this election year has been quite entertaining, alarming and depressing all at the same time.  On one hand, a number of things were called “unprecedented” or unusual for a presidential campaign.  While on the other hand, several of the old tricks of “dirty” politics, name calling, voter suppression, intimidation and fear mongering remained the norm.  

What is so surprising this year, unlike other years was the high level of sophistication, shifting tactics, key operatives, shallow narratives, email hacking and the role social media played.  This does not over shallow the impact of “fake” stories, draining the swamp, lock her up, suspicion of voter fraud, recounts and the possible hacking of voting machines.  And to take a few steps further, repealing the Affordable Care Act, rebuilding the Military, getting people back to work, returning jobs and businesses from overseas, changing the tax codes, revising social security, cancel or renegotiate trade agreements…the list is long and continues to grow each day due to new special interest groups. 

All of these sound bites are pretty interesting issues to tackle, but what most of us really know is that “talk is cheap” and that change takes a lot longer than the first 100 days.  What people are choosing to talk about is one thing, but what they are not willing to talk about is the “elephant the room” and that is how to “Unite the Nation.”  For many this will never happen during this presidency due to not winning the popular vote and thus a presidency that is considered illegitimate.  The second major underling issues in the room include how to tackle rising drug additions, mental health, economic disparity, immigration reform, affordable housing and improving education.   

I know that for many of us, the 2016 election did not turn out the way you had hoped or dreamed about.  I know you were looking and expecting more, but this is “what we got.”  The next few years are going to be one for our life time and it is going to be perhaps a real bumpy ride.  It will not be business as usual or one of comfort, so I suggest to… “Strap yourself in and hold on to something tight.”  

Keep Hope Alive

Trying to find a way to deal with some of the complex issues of urban America continue to be at the top of the list for most concern residents.  It is not an easy task to say the least, especially when there is so much that needs to be done in terms of providing better housing, reducing crime, making health care affordable, access to quality education, alleviating poverty, creating  sustainable employment and dealing with overt racism.  And this is just a partial list of issues to address...you perhaps have more.  There is more than enough to deal with that gives even the staunchest advocate a reason to pause and to take a deep breath every now and then. 

Each day the beat goes on and the challenges do not get any easier as the cycle of issues keep on repeating themselves regardless of who is running for the highest office in the land.  There is so much to do and for many people... their lives too often hang in the balance by the decisions and policies made by those in charge.  Finding real solutions to growing problems takes a lot of energy, vision, goodwill, collaboration and building strong community relationships.     

I must admit to you that being out on the front lines is a job that is not clearly understood or appreciated most of the time.  But people do know that it is necessary to have someone out there helping some of the most vulnerable people of our society deal with homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness and drug addiction.  If those issues are not addressed they can soon grow into something more.  There is a great need in our society to have people standing and fighting for equal rights, human rights and voting rights.  The sad reality is the fact that there are not enough people making that kind of difference.

Sometimes progress is slow and that sometimes good intentions are misunderstood, but it takes people who accept the calling to “be the difference” that keep things moving in the right direction.  I know that a lot of people just believe that it is someone else’s job and that they are not a part of the solution.  They would rather sit on the sidelines and become a part of something that requires less personal responsibility or to just do things for comfort sake.  But in the end and regardless of political views... “The needs are real and the people are real too.”    

We're Just Getting Started

It’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster ride over the past few weeks for most of us who believe in fairness, truth and the American Dream.  We also believe that a person should be viewed by the content of their character, by what they say and how they conduct themselves; than by the color of their skin, faith or gender.  But like a lightning bolt during this political season a lot of what we hold as basic values and common sense treatment was all but thrown out the window.     

Many Americans woke up on the day after the election in total shock and soon began to realize that many of the social gains made over the past eight years will soon be gone.  Each of us expect some change, but “racial change” is another story altogether.  It is especially more painful if it affects you and your family directly.    So regardless of who was going to win the race to be president of the most powerful nation in the world, we certainly did not expect this outcome. 

If this political cycle has taught us anything is that we can never take things for granted and to always cherish these special moments to participate in the political process.  We also learn how to not surrender our emotions to anxiety, complacency, fear and hopelessness.  This season has also taught us that we have to participate in the process, to not sit on the sidelines and hope for another day or look for more qualified candidates to appear.  Like my mother use to say… “This is what we got to deal with and so let us deal with it.”    

I know that this is going to be an interesting chapter in our American experience of presidential leadership.  But like all things that begin, a day will come when things will change again.  Our mission then it to keep focus on what we can do for there is plenty of work that remains undone in our communities.  So in the meantime, let’s see how things go, get more involved in the process and by all means let us continue to pray for better days.          

Doubling Down

Just when you thought you have heard it all, more comes out… and it is not good.  At times it has us all shaking our heads in disbelief that a statement has been made that is as far from the truth as all get out.  And even when confronted with the truth, they insist that what was said is what they are going to stay with.  For some of them there is no walking it back or a change of heart from their earliest opinion.  And even when pressed as time goes by, they become more tenacious, zealous or resolute in their position.  Sadly, this is where much of our 21^st century of politics and civic discourse have come to. 

Today, it appears that more people who are running for some sort of public office are more interested in playing to their base of supporters then trying to appeal to a much boarder base of American voters.  Instead of working on addressing the issues that concern most residents, people would rather “play the game of politics” than finding solutions to everyday problems.   It is no wonder that so many people have lost faith in our modern day political system and with the people who are representing them at various levels of government.  

In some communities, residents are sick and tired of the politics as usual and are looking for candidates who are listening to solve local needs for better jobs, better schools, more health services and economic opportunities.  Local residents are not interested in who gets the credit from working on their problems, they are only interested in knowing that their issues are being worked on.

No matter how any of us see it, cut it or feel about it, each of our communities deserve better support than what they are getting.  Residents who feel that they are locked out of the process must remain actively engaged in holding those in office more accountable.  And as the old saying goes… “If you keep on doing what you are doing, then you will keep on getting what you are getting.”  It’s time for a change and we should learn how to take our stand and demand better.     

Missing The Point?

Nothing is more liberating than learning the truth about something that has been portrayed as something totally different.  It is shocking at first, hard to digest or get your mind wrapped around the idea of what you have learned.  But as time passes and more details emerge, a light of reason appears and what now stand are only the facts and they speak for themselves.  With this “new revelation” of news we see that so many people who once jumped at the chance to react negatively, have now grown silent and faded away.  

    

It is quiet incredible that so many people get caught up in the emotions of an event, that they don’t see or think things through.  This just does not occur at the grass root level of our society, it also occurs at each level of our political system, government and private sector.  This is the inability to “see the forest for the trees.” Sometimes we get too involved in the details of a problem and not able to look at the situation as a whole.  In other words, we are so close to the situation that we can’t see a way out or listen to other ideas.  Remarkably, there is always a need to take a step back and gain some perspective.

Of course there are others who simply do not care about gaining some perspective or involving others in the process to find the best way forward. They are only interested in getting things done their way or the highway.  They work to find ways to circumvent the system, leave others out of the loop or to go at it alone.  Their interest is always a personal agenda and believe they have the right to do what they do.    

But what is so troubling about it all, is the fact that so much is at stake when other lives are affected.  For nothing good can come from decisions done in a vacuum and when there is a disregard of input from other stakeholders. What is needed these days are people with interpersonal skills that not only listen, understand, but also see what is possible.        

Connecting The Dots

It is easier to point to a particular problem after a negative event occurs that takes us all by surprise.  But after sometime and thought, we soon come to realize that some indicators or signs where missed early on.  And if those indicators or signs could have been identified earlier, perhaps a meaningful solution could have been found.    What make it so challenging in finding a solution is not knowing what to look for,  false assumptions, miscalculations, lack of cultural awareness, lack of vision or limited listening skills.     

       

Regardless of how we see or feel about it, what is occurring all across America these days with the easy access to guns, legal and illegal drugs is greatly impacting our way of life.  And when you add this new normal to the mixture that includes poverty, mental illness, food deserts, lead in water pipes, cancer, unemployment, disabilities, PTSD, AIDS, racism, trauma and domestic violence, then what we are experiencing is just the beginning of more to come.    

In one way or another, many researchers and community leaders are aware that many of the ills of our society are linked together.  Sometimes the links are clear, due to testing of what an individual has ingested, while others links can only be determined by looking through a social, economic or culture lens.  In many situations the links are similar due to the outcomes and what happen.  While other situations vary from one case to another, but each case helps us to better understand what people are dealing with and how they are coping. 

I know that is easy to point a finger at this or that as an underlying cause to an event.  Of course that would not help us to fully understand the situation or issues at hand.  However, when an event occurs, it should give us clues and alert us of what we should be on the lookout for.  Each event may be isolated, but does not mean that it will not happen again.  The event may be one of kind, it may happen on your watch, but each event serves as a wakeup call to what just happen and if we are wise in our pursuit for answers we have to connect the dots and follow where they go.   

Causality

We will be hard press to look at 2016 in Milwaukee as just an average year in the city.  A year that began with great promise and potential, especially considering the new innovations, business startups, expanded growth and new construction projects.  It certainly has been a busy year so far in those terms, but what started out as a great year has also uncovered a growing list of underlining social and community issues.  

        

On one hand we see buildings rising from the ground that are reshaping the Milwaukee skyline.  We see new enterprises, partnerships, ribbon cuttings and the expansion of highways and bypasses in and around the city that are helping to make it easier and safer to travel.  In addition, we see the new bold construction initiatives of suburban communities that are simply capturing the minds of a new generation.  Some of these projects include new housing, schools and shopping squares. 

    

However, on the other hand it is clear that some things have not changed at all.  It is just not the riot that resulted in businesses being lost, a neighborhood shaken, an increasing number of drug overdoses, ongoing gun violence, high unemployment of young black men and youth, limited access to health care and growing poverty.  Some of these things have been going on for decades.  And for a new generation that has been greatly impacted by recent events and who are now feeling the effects of the long term flawed policies of the pass as well as a lack of vision.  

    

The shame of it all is that some of these effects can be prevented if only the root causes are addressed in time.  We also know that when there is little to no work done in prevention, something will happen sooner or later that will get our full attention.  It is within these unique moments that there is a need to look and deal with real causes before they turn into events that can get out of sight and out of mind.  For it is one process that creates an opening for another process and it is that process that can cause more damage in the long run and that leads to unthinkable outcomes.  

Scratching The Surface

Each and every day, something occurs that grips our attention and keeps us on the edge of our seats in wanting to know more about how and why something happen?  And this summer in Milwaukee has done just that.   For many of us, witnessing a riot that burned businesses in one neighborhood, looting, throwing bricks and confronting police are nothing new for an older generation who lived through the late 1960’s and martial law. 

However, it is a new experience for a younger generation that has been greatly impacted by a growing level of gun violence, drug use, terrorism, high incarceration rates for people of color and unemployment.  Besides that, there was a rise in the number of homicides in August that has not been seen in 25 years and now a call for more law enforcement.  Well the picture is clear that something is wrong and what we have been doing is not working.    

Over the years, most of us have also learned that the first step to take after a particular situation or event occurs is to not rush to judgement or conclusions.  The reason for this position is simple; what we are first told too often is not the whole story, but a snap-shot in time of what happen. And as things begin to play out or investigated, more details emerge and that alone can change or alert the way we see things.  Of course, if it can be caught on video, then things can change quickly.              

Today, we are only beginning to see the power of being able to reach beyond what we see or do only a fraction of what is possible.  The real test is to move beyond the superficial details and move beyond our simple understanding of what is happening, but to begin to delving into the depths of what is going on.  We need to learn more about the root causes and long term impact of poverty, conflict, mental health, trauma, drug use, and lead in water pipes, sub-standard housing, no health insurance and racism.  And if no one else is looking into these pressing issues, then it is up to us to find the answers for ourselves.  

Where Do We Go From Here?

It been a long hot summer already and with a few more weeks to go... it is our hope and prayers that it’s does not get any hotter.  And in the light of recent events, it is clear that Milwaukee is just like so many other major cities in America that needs a lot of attention and its needed it now.  From what has already occurred it is clear that a lot of elected officials are not in tune, plugged-in or connected as they should be to what is happening on the grass root level.  Those of us, who work, live and play on the grass root level, it’s a different ballgame.  We are keenly aware of what happening, who’s who, what’s what and what’s going down. 

Sadly, what too often is missing in grass root communities are the people who serve as connectors, organizers and advocates.  They speak the language and know firsthand of the pain, suffering and trauma that goes on each and every day.  They know people by their first names, their families and history.  In addition, they make themselves available when called upon, to fill gaps and to listen to those who have no voice.  They are people persons and are proud to be called a neighbor and friend.

When unique moments of tension, unrest and riots arise in communities, they serve as a wake-up call.  More importantly they provide an opportunity in which to connect or reconnect with others for a greater cause.  With each of these events, regardless of specifics; helps us to pause, to take a step back and reevaluate what happen, why it happen and to find ways to keep it from happening in the near future.  Each occurrence also provide us with a window of opportunity to begin a new dialog, to share our stories of faith, hope, and peace and to demonstrate some goodwill.   

     

During these unsettling times, it is not easy to look beyond what has happen and to see the bigger picture of what is possible.  These times are filled with pain, confusion, fear and uncertainty.  But these times are also filled with our ability to rise above our limitations and to overcome our weaknesses.  It is also a time to build some new bridges of understanding and to allow our belief in the common good of all people to shine through.  

Gold Star Families

I know that there are no major holidays coming soon in which to pay tribute to those who are on or have served on active duty, in the reserves or National Guard.   But, I believe when an opportunity presents itself, we should take a moment or so to reflect upon what it means to serve in any branch of the US military.  It is clear that our great nation owes a deep gratitude to all those men and women who have help to keep the values of America first and foremost.  Our gratitude should go even deeper when we consider those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of those freedoms. 

Since the beginning and even now nothing can adequately prepare a family when the news comes that a loved one has died while serving the country and nothing can erase the pain caused by that loss.  Certainly, nothing will ever give a family the comfort and peace they seek, for their journey is a search for meaning and understanding.  And “…on behalf of a grateful nation, please accept this flag as symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”   

Nearly 100 years ago, during World War I (July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918) something different took place when a servicemen was killed in combat; a gold star was placed over a service flag blue star.  The Gold Star signified the family’s pride in the loved one’s sacrifice rather than the mourning of their personal loss.  In reflection, many Gold Star families wear a Gold Star lapel pin to signify their pride.  The lapel pin displays a Gold Star with a purple background surrounded by a gold wreath.  Today, the National Gold Star Family Registry notes on its website that 472,045 fallen service members have been registered by relatives.

But the Gold Star program is more, it has been designed to help ease the burden of families through a number of ways including reaching out to families, providing information on available resources, benefits, a sympathetic ear, and connecting them to other Gold Star families who live in the area.  In addition, many businesses and companies help to support Gold Star activities.  This unique program also helps to raise awareness thought events, memorials, or to establish a foundation in the memory of a lost service member.  And the best way to support a Gold Star family is to remember and honor their fallen hero.  

Running ON Empty

The long summer of our discontent continues playing out each week with new levels of gun violence, more demonstrations and the public outcry for peace, justice and gun control.  The issues are mounting due to the recent disturbing and questionable tactics of police that left two black men dead, with both events being caught on cell phone video and shared on social media.  Additionally, the wounding and killing of several police officers is also adding fuel to an already burning fire on race relations in America.  In addition, the unsettling rhetoric of those running for public office, racist groups and those with personal agendas are making things more complicated.

   

With so much occurring each day it is hard to find a path forward that works and that leads to a solution that garner support and by in.  For a new and younger generation, what is happening is shocking and unbelievable.  It seems foreign with many of them having a difficult time coping and understanding what it all means.  For many older African Americans, the current issues are alarming and outrageous, but are reflective of what occurred during the 1960’s that included the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X; the Vietnam War, countless marches, voting rights, housing rights, Kent State shooting, beginning of head start and urban riots.  

   

What is being seen on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg; however these recent events are sheading new light on some old underlining issues.  And to be truthful about it, many of these issues have always been with us.  However, these recent events have brought a sense of urgency on how to restore the loss of trust between residents and local law enforcement and the Criminal Justice system.  This is a tall order to be sure, but not as impossible as some my believe it to be.  

The issues are real, the events are real, and the people are real.  In the larger narrative, unless we make the investment to look deeper and to go deeper into these issues, then things will only remain the same.  But in the wider view, the more we dig into those issues, the more will come to the surface and that is where we will see the healing.  If we want to change our world, we must seek for the solutions regardless of the cost involved.               

Finding Our Way Through

It’s been a rough year already in terms of gun violence in America and its only July.  At this rate most major cities across America will surpass historical records on gun deaths. With each passing day some kind of gun violence event captures the news headlines and before long the event has gone “viral” on social media.  Getting any kind of positive media coverage on any notable program is hard when there is an event that involves a weapon, especially a gun.  As one person recently cited “if it bleeds, it leads.”   

In the wake of so must recent domestic violence many elected officials, activists, religious leaders and good citizens are at a lost on what is occurring in their communities.  Some suggest that as a nation we are at a “tipping point” on gun violence and gun ownership.  Trying to get a handle on underlying issues or to just begin to understand what is going on is a perplexing endeavor.  Of course every community is different; share some similarities, but the challenges on how to deal with gun right laws, drug abuse and mental illness are not unique to any community alone.  We are all sharing in this struggle.

The current wave of unexpected gun violence is “rocking our world,” to say the least.  For a new generation of African Americans this stuff is altering the way they are seeing things.  In the view of some of us who are older, this is nothing new; we have been here and seen this before.  The legacy of our American experience is full of examples of oppression, injustice, racism, abuse, slavery, intolerance and driving while being Black.  We know we have come a long way and yet believe much more work is required to make America better and safer.       

In light of what is going on, there is always a way forward, there is always hope, if we can only see it and search for it.  Just like our forefathers and mothers who believed that better days were coming even with so many issues unresolved, the race is still not finished.  I know if our ancestors can find a way out and to deal with the issues, to vote, to march, to boycott, to protest, to dialog, to run for public office, to own a business, to train, to teach, to preach, and to reach, then we too can help impact change.  And regardless of how we see it, solving many of these complex and connected issues are a tall order and require some level heads, prayer and some common sense.  

Looking for a Way In

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” is a quote that is gaining considerable interest as more residents seek to become more engaged in helping their community to become better and stronger.  However, a number of residents find it difficult to help when they are not included in the decision making process.  Some residents see a system that is broken, policies off track and major decisions being made without any public input.  Still others feel left out of the entire picture until something bizarre occurs and then those in charge begin to ask for their help.  In the words of one resident...“Why ask for my help in a time of crisis, when my voice does not count when there is no crisis?”

Most concern residents want to be engaged when issues are being discussed that affect them and their community.  They resent when decisions are being made by people who do not live where they live, experience what they experienced, nor look like them.  For some it is the loss of trust, while some see race as a key factor.  Still others feel that a lot is being discussed behind closed doors, through side bars and at private lunches and dinners. All the while decisions are being made without any input from those who are going to be impacted.  

As we all know, too many of our communities are facing huge challenges and one solution does not fit them all.  Trying to find solutions that work on surreal problems is a job all by itself.  There is no single method or pathway to achieve success when dealing with an issue, but perhaps with more seats at the table anything is possible. And as the beat of challenging issues goes on for most neighborhoods, so does the number of opportunities to get involve open up. 
  

I know it is a tall order trying to keep all residents informed and engaged on a number of issues that are affecting their quality life.  And no matter how much information is shared on a consistence basic, social media, news feeds and email, it perhaps will never be good enough to please everyone.  This leads to only one conclusion, people must feel valued or important enough to be given an invitation to sit at the table when it matters the most, during good and bad times.  Just remember, that at some tables the seating is limited... so bring a chair. 

Looking for a Way UP

It seems as it will never end... all the senseless violence, crime, drug use and the indifference people are showing in the wake of more of the same old stuff each week.  It appears if we have lost our way or will in solving problems and getting things done for the good of society and future generations.  I know that a lot has changed within our great nation and more change is on its way, but the solutions we seek and so rightly deserve are in our hands; however we must have the courage to act upon our values and use some sound judgement. 

To all those who have never lost anyone to gun violence, drug use, mental illness, lived in an urban war zone, worked in a hostile environment, grew up in a dysfunctional family or served in the US military... then it is impossible to clearly understand what it means to be on the front lines or in the trenches of society when it matters the most.  As my late grandmother would say...“seeing is the believing, but experience is the knowing.”  In other words, if you have not seen or gone through something that has altered your life, then trying to judge other people who have to live with the reality of what is happening; then you are simply out of sight and out of mind. 


What people who live in urban America really need and that will make the greatest difference in their lives is not a hand out...but a hand up.  The helping hand they seek is the one that enables them to take control of their communities, begin to take the next step in opening a business, to clear the hurdle towards meaningful employment, build bridges to strengthen relationships with neighbors or to climb the ladder of corporate America.  It is to enable people to pull themselves up by seeing that they too can make it regardless of where they come from and the color of their skin.  It is to know that the situation that has them trapped caused by circumstances, a lack of opportunities and resources are obstacles that can be overcome.  So, can you lend me a hand?                 

Looking For A Way Out

The blight of the working poor continues to be under-reported by all media outlets.  But we all know that they exist even if we pretend not to notice.  The working poor are those who get up every morning and go to work regardless of their living conditions.  They have to go to work at jobs that in most cases do not pay anything close to a livable wage and perhaps just above minimum wage.  To make ends meet or get close to meeting, they work a second, third and sometimes a fourth part-time job, plus a side “hustle” to stay afloat or to just keep treading water.  Their daily “grind” includes long weeks, long hours, no time off, bad diets and a lack of sleep.  

What is so puzzling about their story and the reality of most people who continue to live in some of the most challenging neighborhoods in urban America is the fact that they believe that “better days are possible.” For many of them this is home and they have learned how to deal with the reality of a “rough” neighborhood and to escape is nearly impossible.  I know it hard to believe that people want to still live in these “little Beirut’s” and honestly believe that change is possible.  And yes! Some see these communities of boarded up houses, car jacking’s, gang violence, drug dealing, food deserts and slum lords as having an upside to them.    

Of course, there are a number of theories behind what is occurring in urban America. One such notion is that people are behind the madness of what is transpiring in urban America and are conspiring to undermine its possible resurgence.  Some also hold the idea that some people are seeking to benefit financially from an “urban America collapse,” by buying up all the boarded-up houses, empty buildings and vacant lots for economic redevelopment.  And yet there are others who see when “new housing” comes back to a particular neighborhood, the cost to live in the “new” is beyond their reach.  In some odd way people are feeling betrayed and want to blame city officials, business owners and community leaders for what is happening. 
       
However, improving the lives of the “working poor” should get our full attention in this 21^st century.  For improving their lives can also improve the conditions on the ground in the community and turning urban America around would be easier.  This is no laughing matter and from a difference point of view, the “working poor” is urban America’s best kept secret.  All that is needed is to help those that are on the bottom of the economic scale to become stronger by improving their earning potential.  Now that will be a story worth writing about and to witness.     

The Triple Nickles

There are a lot stories from World War II that get most of the headlines these days including Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and the dropping of the Atomic Bombs on  Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  During each of these major events of that war there were a number military units, ships and personal stories that are highlighted in which much of the war is told through.  But there were other (Black, Native and Japanese American) military units and personal stories that most of us have never heard of that also played a vital role during WWII.    

Some of us know of the role of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Indian Code Talkers, but what about the 555^th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the “Triple Nickles”?  Well you are not alone.  This unit was a 20-member “colored test platoon” from the 92^nd Infantry (Buffalo) Division.  It was born within an army that was still segregated and had traditionally relegated Blacks to menial jobs and programmed them for failure.  However, the 555^th Parachute Infantry Battalion, or “Triple Nickles,” succeeded in becoming the nation’s first All-Black parachute infantry test platoon, company and battalion from 1943-45.   

One of the most notable operations that the 555^th perform came in 1945 when a request came from the U.S. Forest Service to fight blazing forest fires in the American Northwest.  It was also important to know that the Japanese were at that floating incendiary devices attached to balloons across the Pacific Ocean, which took advantage of the jet stream’s easterly flow and would perhaps land in the Northwest.  In addition, the unit was to confront a new dimension in warfare involving the use of biological agents that could destroy woodlands and crops.  Because of their skill and abilities they became history’s first military “Smoker Jumpers.”  During their assignment in the northwest they answered 36 fire calls with more than 1,200 individual jumps during the summer of 1945.  


A major element in their success was that, unlike other Black infantry units commanded by White officers, this unique army unit commanding structure was entirely Black.  As time when alone, these pioneers blazed new trails for countless black soldiers to follow.  The 555^th also helped in the formation of other Battalions, Airborne Infantry Regiments and Special Forces.  The truly amazing part of their story was how they as black soldiers had gone from riding in the back of trucks, buses, used “colored” toilets and drinking fountains in rail-road stations, sit in segregated sections of theaters, and go out of their way to avoid confrontation with racist police to a military unit that kept the Northwest forest fires in check and was called by General Ben Lear as “one of the finest groups of soldiers he had ever seen.”  Now that is some history.   

Staying Afloat

Maybe I missed something, didn’t get that email, heard the special breaking news report or just did not quite understand what some people are saying about progress in urban America.  I just don’t know what they see, heard, what they have come to believe or been drinking.  I know about the new construction ventures, expanding businesses, mergers, innovations, new technologies and breakthroughs.  And I get that and appreciate the forward movement and thinking.  Somehow or in some way, what I am seeing and what others are seeing or omitting are two different things. 

But this is one thing I know for sure; urban America has a long way to go in order to make a comeback or to reinvent itself from those famous glory days during the “golden era of industry and manufacturing.”  This is not just occurring here in Milwaukee, but throughout every urban center in America that was built upon having a large labor force in mass manufacturing.  With that era gone, urban America also loss livable wage jobs, businesses and educational training centers.  And now those days are but distance memories that have left so much of America in shambles with hollowed out cities and ghost towns. 

Those days are gone and shall never return, but the lingering long term effects and the transition from an industrial base economy to technology driven economy continue to leave an entire aging generation behind, in the dust or underwater.  Just trying to keep up with so many advances is a job all to itself.   In so many places from urban America to rural towns, people have suffered a lot of setbacks, pain, depression, displacement and instability.  But they have remained hopeful. 


Trying to keep true to the core values of the American Dream, that is based upon the belief that by working hard you can make your dreams come true.  However, with each passing day, not only are baby boomers having a hard time in dealing with these changes, but that the next generation is struggling as well.  What is so amazing today is that even in the midst of living in the harsh reality of rough neighborhoods in urban America, people have learned how to adapt and stay afloat.  Of course this is not as simple as it sounds, but people have learned how to tread and bail water out of their boat situation. 

Changing The Conversation

Even with this political season now in full stride, a number of issues have been put on the back burner or just pushed aside for a later time.  However, through the eyes of many of us, life as we have always experienced continues unabated.  This includes gun violence, drug abuse, homelessness and high unemployment in the inner city.  The issues and challenges most communities were facing before this election season started continue to march forward without anything being done to address them or at best slow things down.  

Even with so much attention being given to the political process and who is running for office, some neighborhoods have been taking action and doing something to improve their relationships with local law enforcement.  One such initiative has been the ‘Police and Resident Listening Circles’ that are being held in the Harambee, Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods. These listening circles are being facilitated by the Zeidler Center with funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Racial Equality and Inclusion Grant. 

A design team consisting of residents, youth, police and Zeidler Center facilitators began planning the spring listening circles during the winter of 2015.  A total of three (3) listening circles are being held this spring and three additional ones are scheduled for this coming fall.  Each listening circle session includes local residents, youth as well police officers who are assigned from the local police precinct and who cover those neighborhoods.  During each listening circle session a number of questions are asked of all participants in which to respond.  At the end of each listening circle, participants are asked to fill out an evaluation and make any additional comments. 


These listening circles are designed with three goals, including: (1) listen deeply to each other and speak from the heart; (2) build relationships and trust and; (3) brainstorm ways to strengthen and support the community together.  At the heart and beyond these goals, other initiatives, recommendations, and ideas will be created by the residents and officers brainstorming together, and be led by the participants themselves.  So far, so good and this is without media coverage.  Here is a “bright idea” instead of us focusing on what people are saying outside of our communities, we just need to sit down and listen to those who live, work, play and worship in our neighborhoods.  What do you think?  I am listening!

Closing the Gaps

It was the Irish playwright and Nobel Prize recipient in Literature, George Bernard Shaw (1865-1950) who said “some men see things and say ‘Why?’ But I dream of things that never were and say “why not?’  This is a quote that is reflective and celebrates visionary and idealistic thinking. With this thought in mind, there is a shortage of “visionaries” today who are willing to work on solving many of the lingering historical and generational problems of our modern society.

This critical shortage of “visionaries” is showing up all over America. So much is going on these days that it is hard to keep up with the stockpile of issues that have become the norm, lead stories on cable and satellite stations, spotlighted on talk radio and 24 hour news cycles.  Many of these pressing issues mirror state and national trends. Some of these issues include opioid abuse, expanding poverty, gruesome slayings, gang violence, homelessness, mental health, public unrest, political corruption, sexual assaults, wealth gap and poor housing. 

Of course, Milwaukee is not alone in the growing list of issues that are emerging each and every day.  If fact, Milwaukee tops the list in many categories of major challenges and includes being listed as one of the top ten most dangerous places to live.  Milwaukee is also leading the way in the number of African American youth being suspended from high school, high infant mortality rates, and the highest percentage of African American men being incarcerated in state prisons.  These realities are also affecting those living in suburban and sprawling rural communities.  The sure impact of these issues are eating away at the core value of feeling safe, expressing religious faith, and perusing one’s dream while a resident of the most power country in the World. 


Without a doubt, it appears that what is missing today are those “visionaries” to come forth and help close the gaps in our society.  They see things differently, imaging the possible and are willing to work with others beyond the color line, socioeconomic status and religious beliefs.  They just want to get the work done, regardless of who gets the credit or the pat on the back.  They are there for the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.  To work on those social ills and to help us see what is possible.  The gaps are real, opportunities abound... but “visionaries” are few.

Finding Some Traction

Each day we hear of great achievements occurring in science, medical research, education and technology.  These advancements are certainly creating breakthroughs in areas we never believed would happen. These changes are altering how we live our lives, both now and in the near future.  We are also hearing about other ground breaking initiatives from around the globe that are making tremendous impact in the areas of business and industry, startups, leadership, interventions and social media.  It is amazing how far we have come over the past two decades or so and it certainly will be interesting to see what will happen in the next 5-10 years. 


I find it quite fascinating to glance over the endless list of “new ideas” that are changing our world as we know it.  These “new ideas” are affecting who, what, when, where, how and why we do things.  And with each passing day, here comes another “new idea.”  Each “new idea” also brings with it some fascination about it possibility, measurable outcomes and long term impact.  Believe me, “I am all in” for new ways in which to get things done, solve lingering problems and provide a pathway to a brighter future.  But all “new ideas” are not the same, for some “new ideas” bring with them a down side.  


At first glance it may appear that things are going great, a lot of fanfare, a lot of intrigue, and a lot of excitement; but there is something missing and you can’t quite put your finger on it.  The way I see it, you have to ask the question who benefits, who loses and who is left behind with each “new idea.”  There are always “winners and losers” when change occurs.  Another thing I see missing is how can the “new idea” that begins working effectively be sustained way beyond its starting point.  


All “new ideas” bring some kind of change.  However, change for the sake of change does not always work.  Change may look good on paper, provide wonderful talking points, advance a career and can bring a fresh view to an old idea.  But change that makes a lasting impression has to include not only the person who has the idea, but also include the people it will affect.  With a new generation coming of age and rapidly assenting to prominent roles throughout our society, they have to find ways to make their “new ideas” stick and to set a new trend for us to follow.  

Pardon The Interruption

The rebuilding and sustaining of communities continue to be an ongoing battle for those living within those neighborhoods. The once promising neighborhood in which we chose to move into has since changed and many of those changes over time have been hard to bear. Neighborhoods that were seen as a sign of growth, prosperity and stability have all turned into virtual waste lands of boarded up homes, empty lots and untended yards.  The decline of many of these communities have also included losing those good neighbors and stable families that made the neighborhood such a safe and special place.

The change we seek and the change we so desperately need is all possible.  This effort requires that people living in those neighborhoods to come together and organize for the sake of the community.  This too is an ongoing struggle and it depends on whether or not people have a shared vision and passion to become involved.  Getting residents together for the good of the entire community is always a positive step to ensure the neighborhood can be rebuilt and sustained.  For all neighborhoods are a reflection of the people who live in that community. 

The one thing residents who live in these depressed communities need is support from many sources.  This includes agencies whose mission/vision is to a help residents deal with changing conditions, glaring issues and who stand ready to serve.  These residents also need the help and resources from the city and county governments to ensure that streets are maintained, street lights are working, quick response from law enforcement when needed, fire service, available health clinics, grocery stores, livable wage employment, quality schools and accessibility to public transportation. 


Most residents really appreciate when others outside their community come to assist, attend block clubs meetings and especially those who are willing to listen to their concerns.  To many of them it helps to not feel as though they are trapped in declining neighborhoods with no one caring about what is happening to them.   Regardless of what we believe about those living in urban America along the edges of society, all residents want people to not forget they are still a part of what makes the community a community. 

A Ripple Effect

It is amazing to reflect upon the number of “small things” that have played such a significant role in many of the greatest events in our history.  The list is truly unbelievable and it keeps on growing.  What is more remarkable about these “small things” is that our world as we know it today would be quite different if those thing had not occurred.   
    
Some examples of these historical “small things” that have changed our world include when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions on that day; even though it was something small helped to spark a city wide bus boycott and lead to a major change in public transportation policy all over the nation.  Who would have believed that during World Wars I & II, the US Military would enlist Native Americans to become radiomen or “code talkers.”  This enabled US Troops to transmit coded messages in Native American languages that could not be decoded by enemy forces. This played a key role in a number of battles that were fought and won. 
   
However, over the past decade or so we have witnessed a number of things that are affecting us greatly and continue to challenge us in terms of how we communicate, view the world, live, play and work with each other.  Some of our most daunting challenges include climate change, smart grid technology, advances in health science, communications, mass incarceration, poverty, law enforcement policy, racism, terrorism, growing foods and technical education.  Of course, we all can add to this list and more.     


And yes, we all can admit that much more needs to be done in order to correct the mistakes that are deeply rooted in our nation’s past.  With each passing day, there are opportunities for us to rebuild our communities, to restore trust in our form of government, create livable wage jobs and to continue to make America great.  For if you believe like I do, all it takes is one person with an idea, a message, a song, some hope and faith... it is all possible.  But what is truly amazing with so many “small things” is that they really turn out in the end to be the “little thing that made a big difference.”    

Where is the Beef?

I have been told that if you want to have a great meal that is both nutritious and fulfilling, you have to begin knowing how to cook the main course. All main courses of beef, fish, shell fish and pork are not all the same.  Regardless of how each is prepared; baked, roasted, barbecued, sauteed, smoked, deep fried, boiled or eaten raw, there are additional steps and ingredients required to bring out its rich favors.  To further enhance our dining pleasure, the main course requires a variety of vegetables, starches, seasonings and sauces that surely complement our dining experience.    

In 1984, the Wendy’s chain of hamburger restaurants began using a “Where is the Beef?” slogan strategy that would help distinguish it from its competitors of McDonalds and Burger King.  The focus was to call attention to the larger beef patty in Wendy’s sandwiches over these competitors.  As a result this slogan campaign proved to be quite successful and has reemerged in various ways through songs, political speeches and ads.  Since then it also became an all-purpose catch-phrase that is used to question the substance of an idea, event and even a product. 

This idea and notion about where is the “substance” is truly being tested during this political season of 2016.  The political chefs in the “kitchen” are making it hard for us to read their menus, count calories and to see the cost per item.  If the samples or our first bites are a “forerunner” of what’s to come, our future diets of getting things done for the good of the people will be hard to digest.  And before anyone buys an item, I strongly suggest that you take a seat, add up the cost and determine what menu will not give you indigestion. 


As this political season moves forward through uncharted territory, negative rhetoric and questionable racial undertones, the stakes no less are very high.  Regardless of the outcomes of this election season, let us not lose sight of what continues to occur in our neighborhoods each and every day.  These problems have not gone away and the issues are as real as they can get.  So, with the table being set, the menu is still a work in progress, let us not become disillusioned about who will win or lose... let’s see if we are at the table or on the menu.        

Can You Handle It?

The pressure is on!!! And it keeps on building as the political world that we though we once knew, is now standing on its collective head.  This election cycle certainly has a lot of people scratching their heads, gasping for air and even seeking out counseling to deal with what they are hearing, seeing and experiencing. 

With each passing day, many keep on saying this is not real, unprecedented, it will not last for long, but to their dismay... this “political circus” train keeps on making its way down the track.  This train has it all, clowns, big money, backdrops, insiders, spin doctors, push-backs, walk backs, fact checkers, the outrageous and the insane.  Not only is this train affecting the way the race for the White House is being viewed, it is also affecting countless state and local races as well.  Truly the circus has come to town.      

What is also making the 2016 elections so interesting has been the emergence of a new level of deep seated prejudice, racism and personal agendas.  In the 1975 movie Network, news anchor Howard Beale declares, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” In this movie, people everywhere go and open their windows and repeat the same catchphrase.  Then they rushed to the streets to air out their grievances.  It does not take Howard long to come to realize that the system co-opts both social and economic power to its own advantage.  In a subtle way this movie was a parable about how after all the screaming, protests and outrage, very little changed and people still lost their voice.  Even in the end, after all the drama, it was about getting better television ratings.  


Sadly, this is where we are today as life is imitating art; we are taking our generative energy, the power of the people to the streets, "We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore."  This message is going across college campuses, in neighborhoods, at town-halls, debates, rallies and through social media.  We are raising our voices to be heard, taking a stand and marching to a new drummer to reflect why Black Lives Matters, to reduce gun violence, bring back livable wage jobs, keep Plan Parenthood services for all women, provide clean water to drink and to hold people accountable.  From my view, since the train is moving and headed our way, let’s keep the pressure on and maybe something really happens.