Society: The Various Views of Living

Class this week, February 16, 2016, having guest speakers come in to discuss social work and life experiences from downtown Baltimore, Gilmore and McCullen area especially, brought to the forefront the difference in society's views of an area. John Comer, one of the leaders in Communities United, expressed his personal experiences living downtown and how individuals roles in the communities correlate to the living experience. Hearing about how it took 3 years for his organization to begin to gain respect and relevance within the communities he was helping astounded me. That astounded me particularly because, he explained, that the community didn't trust the group that they were helping the area because it was the right thing to do. Hearing that people within the community had built up such distrust for others, was unthinkable. To hear that a gesture of kindness wasn't met with a simple expression of gratitude blew my mind. However, hearing Mr. Comer say that money was something of higher importance for Communities United to continue to grow, rather than more community support was a point I understood immediately. Money does wonders for organizations, especially organizations that do volunteer work.

Sitting, listening to how stagnant growth was for a group that was looking to improve their own neighborhoods surprised me. That really made me connect with Mr. Comer, and to see his emotion take over his entire self when the riots were brought up. Those things together made me a believer in Comber and his organization; wanted me to make sure I personally got his contact information to contact him and see what I could do. Even though Baltimore isn't my original "home"; Buffalo, NY is, didn't change my mindset that people should help others when they can, no matter how small the gesture. Listening through class hit home for me, we are all people no matter color, social class, gender, education. People are people at the most basic level, and that alone should be enough for someone to reach out to show support. A picture may speak a thousand words, but an action does more than any word can.

The radio show, and the work that goes into making the segments I know takes time and plenty of effort. Working with the AMST 422 class last spring for the Filbert Street Community Garden, and even though I personally wasn't a part of the radio work each class hearing about the time that went into its completion. I know this project is going to be a lot of work, and group collaboration, but the outcome can be something special. You never know who could be listening, and who could make a personal connection. A personal connection is all it takes; one person can influence many to make change.