A Change Is Gonna Come...

Is it really???!!!

Well, I am finally coming off my hiatus! I have taken some time off from blogging to volunteer with Obama Dallas to ensure a victory, to celebrate my 30th birthday, to volunteer my time with some local non profits and to diligently serve my community through my service on the Park Board.

I have also taken time to do some traveling the last few months and my time away proved to provide many eye opening experiences. (I'll blog about that next week)...remind me :)

I was away from the city last week to support my college in a gridiron battle with our biggest rival, Bethune Cookman College (BCC). FAMU won the game and more importantly won the battle of the bands (Halftime show) hands down! And rightfully so, the Marching 100 (who now stand over 400 people strong) were tapped weeks ago to perform for the historical inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama.

More importantly, while I was away, the life of a wonderful woman was celebrated on the same day that I was celebrating a win for FAMU. I briefly heard the news story the week before I left of a young lady that was gunned down in her car, minutes from my home, as she drove to work early one morning. However, I did not realize that I knew this young woman until I read Mike D's blog posts today. Wyshina Harris was a sweet and caring woman that I was blessed to cross paths with through her work with an after school program and my service as the District 4 park board representative. The after school program operated out of Turner Courts in sunny South Dallas where I was afforded the opportunity to attend high school and the ladies that worked that program really made a difference in the students lives and the community around them. Wyshina invited me over to speak for career day last Spring and I will never forget her son's questions of me. She also made sure that the students properly greeted me each time that I visited. She was a class act! It pains my heart that something this tragic would take her from her family and friends and strip her from changing the futures of the many kids that she would go on to work with. God makes no mistakes and I am made all the better to have crossed paths with her! You can read about Wyshina Harris here and here. I am still a little jaded about this news, yet another senseless crime in the Grove and in this City! If you choose to donate to her memorial fund, please know that it will make a difference in the lives of others and keep your ears and eyes open..if you have any information about this crime, please report it!

Is a change coming? I certainly think so, but it starts with each of us making strides and taking steps to make changes..life altering and life sustaining changes...

As recorded by Sam Cooke in December of 1963, below is an excerpt of "A Change is Gonna Come":

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh.....

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Many believe that change has come with the election of Barack Obama as the 1st African American President of the United States of America. But I submit to you that change has come and will continue to come as we all continue to do our part to effect change around us!

President-Elect Obama said it best on the night of November 4th, 2008...
"This victory alone is not the change we seek, it is only the chance for us to make that change and that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were..it can't happen without you..without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice..so let us summon a new spirit..where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.."

I am and I will continue to do my part...

LET'S GO TO WORK!

Barack in Dallas..FINALLY!

Obama will be in Dallas Wednesday, February 20th, 2008. Hope to see you there!

Join Barack Obama for a special Stand for Change Rally in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, February 20th.

The event will be free and open to the public.
Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
Reunion Arena 777 Sports StreetDallas, TX
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Doors Open: 10:30 a.m.- but the event doesn't start until 12:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. No signs or banners permitted.

Also, FYI, parking will be tight and limited and the Arena, so you may want to hit up DART! or get dropped off! :)

.....

Well, as endorsements are coming in daily with the State of Texas positioned in a place of importance. There is a great deal at stake and an important number of delegates to be gained here in the GREAT state of TEXAS! I am still on a high after hearing Barack Obama's speech last night, but more about that later...

Also local elections taking place and local campaigning going on around us for the November election. Pay close attention to how your local elected officials react and respond to certainly all things, but more importantly to this Presidential election. Ask yourself, do they embody the same values as yourself, do they support the same candidate as yourself, do they stand for the same ideas and morals as yourself, do they go against the grain and the desires of the majority of their constituents? I won't continue the path of some of my elders and tear down my people, but I ask you to search yourself...and if your elected official does NOT line up with you, then cast your vote accordingly when they are up for re-election. Or better yet, enter the race yourself!

Until your MINDSET (thanks Obama!) becomes free...

Let's Go To Work!

Participate in the Process...

As I listened to the City Council meeting this morning and continue to listen...several thoughts have crossed my mind...


this morning some names were read aloud and voted on by the council for board appointments. Several of the names I recognized as players that have bounced from board to board since I was a young girl. The younger generation has got to begin to participate in the process! While I understand that we are young professionals trying to make an earnest living and don't have the luxury of a schedule that allows us to go down to City Hall on Wednesday's and voice our concerns, you should participate (in some shape, form or fashion) when you can.


The City Council meetings are broadcast on WRR-FM (101.1) live every 2nd and 4th Wednesday starting and 9 a.m. (and thanks be to the new Mayor, they start on time for the most part) and can also be heard online through WRR's website, http://www.wrr101.com/. You may also watch the council meetings if you have Time Warner Cable, at 9 a.m. on EVERY Wednesday on Dallas City Channel 16. There are also several rebroadcasts of the show throughout the week on the same channel. Council committee meetings are also broadcast on Channel 16.


SIDEBAR: If you can make it by on a Wednesday, even if just for an early or late lunch break, it normally promises to entertain you at the least..don't forget your popcorn! ;)


You may also check out the upcoming council agenda (or the agenda for any other board, council committee or commission) online at http://www.dallascityhall.com/. If you see an item of interest, be sure to check out the meeting or go down to City Hall and sign up to speak on the issue. You are also welcome to come and sit in on our Park Board meetings on Thursday's on the 6th floor of City Hall- we meet tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. :)

The council voted this morning to authorize a program/ partnership between DISD and the DPD to teach young students about domestic violence and how to deal with family violence. I discussed with many of you my concerns last year regarding this issue and it seems this year is starting off much the same...with domestic violence issues. The case in Tyler where Christopher McCuin murdered his girlfriend, cut out parts of her body and possibly could have eaten some of her flesh. The sad case in South Carolina of Marisha Jeter, the young cheerleader killed by an ex- boyfriend and his wife. It appears locally and in other states we have begun the year with deaths as a result of domestic violence issues. Ladies, we have got to begin to have our best interests at heart! We sometimes love easy and hard that it hurts and hinders us in the end! The signs are normally there and we ignore them for many different reasons! Let us resolve to also keep our mental health in tact this year and beyond and engage in healthy relationships with our family members, significant others and friendships!



Let's Go to Work!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Well, I finally decided to join the blogger world! I know I'm a tad bit late..I actually started a blog 2 years ago, but never posted a blog! So for the new year, I decided to start a new thing! Big and great things are happening. I will be ranting and raving on here pretty regularly (hopefully..) but also hope to inform and effectuate change in my generation and those coming behind me.

So for now...I'll just say..LET'S GO TO WORK!!!