Diamond Gregory
My first week in the Summer Service
Partnership Program was a handful. There was a lot of get to knowing new people,
taking in tons of information about Greater Grand Crossing, and the experience
of trying new things. There were a couple of things that I didn’t like about
this week, but tons of things I loved.
One of the things I loved was that I loved was that I got to learn about Greater Grand Crossing this week. I learn that there are a lot of positive people, and positive things being done in the community that don't get the recognition they deserve. Everything bad in the community is being brought forth and highlighted, when it really should be the other way around.
Last Thursday my team and I took a community tour with Sam Binion. As we walked through the neighborhood blocks he introduced us to a couple of adults and teens who made a different in Greater Grand Grossing. The seniors and adults use to get together every year to create a Block Club party or a Back to school Jam; as a way to get residents in the area to come together to have fun and mingle in a safe environment. The teens in the area are also doing healthy thing for the community. Some actually choose to say no to the local drug dealer and, instead, picked up a basketball in order to stay active. And all while we were listening to their stories it seems as if the tools that were brought into the community to be helpful are really turning out to be more useless.
For example: tenants are describing the local youth center and grocery store as “money hungry”. Saying that the rise in prices for food and demand for membership has become too much to handle. People in the community feel as if these reliable tools are NOT for them. There for, these locals have to search for safe places for their children to hang out and play, and other grocery store with low priced food outside of their own community. Residents of the Greater Grand Crossing are relying on themselves and other locals to help make healthy decision a community. They can’t rely on the Centers and local grocery store to be safe and accessible. Greater Grand Crossing is a community that wants to change but doesn’t have the power and resources.
So it’s my duty as a community leader to create a project that would lead them towards a safer and healthier lifestyle.
One of the things I loved was that I loved was that I got to learn about Greater Grand Crossing this week. I learn that there are a lot of positive people, and positive things being done in the community that don't get the recognition they deserve. Everything bad in the community is being brought forth and highlighted, when it really should be the other way around.
Last Thursday my team and I took a community tour with Sam Binion. As we walked through the neighborhood blocks he introduced us to a couple of adults and teens who made a different in Greater Grand Grossing. The seniors and adults use to get together every year to create a Block Club party or a Back to school Jam; as a way to get residents in the area to come together to have fun and mingle in a safe environment. The teens in the area are also doing healthy thing for the community. Some actually choose to say no to the local drug dealer and, instead, picked up a basketball in order to stay active. And all while we were listening to their stories it seems as if the tools that were brought into the community to be helpful are really turning out to be more useless.
For example: tenants are describing the local youth center and grocery store as “money hungry”. Saying that the rise in prices for food and demand for membership has become too much to handle. People in the community feel as if these reliable tools are NOT for them. There for, these locals have to search for safe places for their children to hang out and play, and other grocery store with low priced food outside of their own community. Residents of the Greater Grand Crossing are relying on themselves and other locals to help make healthy decision a community. They can’t rely on the Centers and local grocery store to be safe and accessible. Greater Grand Crossing is a community that wants to change but doesn’t have the power and resources.
So it’s my duty as a community leader to create a project that would lead them towards a safer and healthier lifestyle.
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