In the morning our AB group went to Bea Gaddy’s Family
Center near Johns Hopkins University. The program leader, Cynthia, talked about
the serious issues between the people of city and the intricate relationship
with the University. She expressed that the University could be their ally and
a bully. The school sends lots of community service workers who help out but
they also buy out houses where people are living and force them to find a new
location to live. We unpacked food from
trucks, organized canned goods, and learned more about the community that the
family center was learning.
Our last outreach program which we participated in was
with Christopher Place Employment Academy. We learned a lot from it. At this rehabilitation
center or half-way house we got to eat dinner and exchange stories with
recently reinstated citizens. They told us about how they wound up in their
situation and their plans for the future. They were all extremely positive and
vibrant. They wanted their stories to have a real effect on us. The Director,
Mr. Green, especially shared this sentiment with his words.
As someone who grew up in Baltimore, I can attest to the long-held, strained relationship between the world famous Johns Hopkins Hospital and the surrounding community that the Bea Gaddy official mentioned. Although the hospital has worked hard to address this issue over the years , the fact remains that its sprawling complex grew and expanded while housing available to its low-income neighbors constricted and disappeared. And memories of mistreatment and limited access to care for poor and minority groups within the hospital decades ago still resonates for some. If you haven't read Rebecca Skloots' book, 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' do yourself a favor and do so. And just last year, maintenance, service and technical employees at the world-famous, wealthy and powerful institution went on strike saying they make so little that they must rely on food stamps, Medicaid and other public assistance for basic needs. I like that "bully or ally" comment. I think it's an important point for institutions and businesses to keep in mind when trying to do their part to address issues of poverty and disparity.
ReplyDelete...and one more thing. Bea Gaddy was really an icon in Baltimore's effort to address poverty and homelessness. She was one of those people who was making a difference for those in need when no one was paying attention. It's a testament to her determination that her work continues with the people you met at the center and with other like-minded people around the city who work so hard to make a difference. Each individual effort may seem small when the need is so great, but those small efforts add up.
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