We've had a long day today, meeting with a variety of folks from different sectors. We started with some strategic planning folks, who consult on development projects for cities. We got our first look at the political side of things. Our discussion got a little heated, but was very good.
Education was a theme for the day. We met with people passionate about early-childhood literacy issues. School-access issues dominated the afternoon and evening, with a panel discussion about special issues confronting the growing Hispanic community. Chattanooga is home to growing Mexican and Guatemalan communities, and they face issues regarding literacy and access to the education system.
Access is something we (I) tend to take for granted. For non-English-speaking communities, the ability for parents (who may not be literate, even in Spanish) to navigate "the system" is extremely limited. How are we, as the church, to respond? What can we do to change the futures of entire families? It begins, I've learned, with the children. It does not end there, however. Getting parents more education (language, job skills, etc...) can get them more involved in their children's education.
Putting together coalitions of people committed to changing their city means finding committed, passionate individuals. Meeting the people we've met so far, I'd say that's the sine qua non. If you find those people, other things fall into place. What is my passion? What is my community's? What is yours?
2 comments:
So are you seeing personal implications for building coalitions? Where do you see this going for you, Michael?
Immediately, I'd like to try to put together a petition drive for the upcoming children's healthcare bill. I want to start a petition drive, partnering with the few neighboring churches I know. It's a start!
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