Breanna Sommers Post #3

When I first starting working at Agape, I was shocked by the vast inequality in Memphis. I was startled every time I heard a particularly shocking narrative or heard about corruption or injustice in Memphis politics. I was also excited that almost every division of Agape hosts countless community development events that promote parent and family engagement. I thought this would finally be the way to combat all of the issues that unsettled me. However, it is very difficult to get community member to attend. The elementary school that I observe normally has 30% attendance even though it is completely free, includes transportation and two meals. My boss makes herself regularly available to parents and students, but she is rarely contacted. We often have huge sponsored cookouts and parties, but sometimes only ten families will come. Agape even seemed to do a great job of eliminating or minimizing many of the barriers that would prevent individuals from coming.  I was shocked, unsettled and confused. I always thought that we just need the manpower and funding to get positive programming off the ground and the community would embrace it and benefit from it.

As days turned into weeks, I noticed that I settled into the day-to-day activities of my non-profit. I no longer gasped at startling statistics or was angered by politicians that capitalize on the impoverished. I began to see wealth inequality as something so insurmountable. I began to lose hope. My supervisor all the way up to the director did not have a tangible solution to get community members to attend community development events. We altered the times and dates, offered incentives, and included food and daycare services. We even regularly survey community members to see how we can improve our programming. I found myself mimicking my boss and co-workers around me who spoke of poverty as a static entity that we as a small non-profit had little control over. A war waged in my head. Is community development or policy reform more effective for long term, sustainable change? When I started college, I believed that immediate, on the ground community engagement was the best solution towards bettering the community, but Agape’s frequently less than successful attempts made me question the value of direct community development.

However, I started meeting individual community members, especially children, and they told me their story. Once I heard their narrative, I more clearly understood the emotional component of community engagement and realized how difficult it was for them to have time or see the value in our programming. They are so bombarded by everyday difficulties that it is almost impossible for them to plan far in advanced. Even though their struggle can seem very foreign, I am constantly finding people that deeply care about their families and communities the same way I do. It may not look or sound the same, but many are invested in the greater good and want to restore their neighborhoods in intrinsic and extrinsic ways. Knowing this gave me great hope for stronger, healthier, and continuously vibrant neighborhoods in Frayser and Raleigh.