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.”