MLK Day!

January is gone in a hustle and a bustle. The highlight of the month is Martin Luther King Day. The Federal Way partnered with several organizations across town to organize a synergistic day of service that comprised several projects around town.

I was at a Dunbar Middle school which was located in a neighborhood that looked like a ghost town. We were tasked with painting:

· A hallway
· An office
· A gym
In the end the 125 volunteers painted:

· 2 hallways
· An office
· A gym
· The lunchroom
· A bathroom
· Cleaned a chaotic room disheveled by flood.
· Picked up trash.

The volunteers were mostly youth part of a group called Jack and Jill which are mothers and children who come together to socialize while serving and learning. We also had Teach For America folks, college students, and us AmeriCorps folks.

It was really powerful to see how much we accomplished in 4 hours. It all came together so quickly. The cost and time expenditure on the same project would have been enormous if it had been undertaken at market value. Time is a phenomenal resource. All these 125 people gave was 4 hours. No money, no supplies, just their beautiful hands.

Now the students at Dunbar Middle School have a bright clean learning environment. Many studies have explored the connection between attractive, dynamic environments and positive learning outcomes. I hope that the students at Dunbar will feel a little more cared about; I hope they will find school more pleasant, and I hope they will overcome the odds against them.

Wild Idea!

The other day Stefanie and I had a lovely time ice-skating, then we went to the history museum. There were two special exhibits. One was about the phenomenal and exquisite Katherine Dunham. The other exhibit was about treasure, and it required tickets, which were free for Saint Louis residents. Upon learning that we would be charged as out of town residents; Stef and I thanked the attendant and left without the tickets.

As we were entering the Katherine Dunham exhibit a man gave Stef and I tickets to the treasure exhibit. This Saint Louis resident overheard us asking about the tickets so he requested extra tickets to share with us.

Stefanie and I were happy and surprised by this random act of kindness. We thanked the gentleman as he quickly left. Stef shared my perspective that this sort of wonderful thing happens all the time.

The kind stranger truly made us smile and sparked a conversation about assuming the best about people. Almost nobody sits around conniving to hurt others. Those who do, have psychological problems. I’ve been trying to keep this in mind when I’m upset, though it is so much harder if I’m triggered.

The day after the history museum while doing much wonderful cooking, I could hear the show my sister was watching about Lady Cops. These tuff women described themselves as jaded due to all they’ve seen. In order to protect themselves physically and emotionally cops need to assume the worst.

I mixed what I was hearing on the show with things I’ve heard from the neighborhood cop, then I addeed en my own flowery world view with sprinkles of thought about the prison industrial complex, healing, and social justice. The resulting thought was, “I could be a cop!”

Yes, I too am quite surprised, at the thought synthesis. Being a cop would be a supreme challenge. I’ve had challenges to my world view, but being a cop would be the epitome of challenge. An unchallenged conviction is just a fantasy. I don’t imagine myself as a cop forever, because law enforcement doesn’t seem to be an effective means to address social issues, but I can see myself doing it for 5 years. Oh, yet another idea for my future…