This is the tile of a sermon a good friend of mine preached on August 24, 2008 and the three baptist points were:
1. Because my community needs me
2. Because AIN'T nobody else stepping up
3. Because there's more to my fight than meets the eye
The sermon blessed me then and blesses me even now! Thank you Pastor Batson!
As I visit with my neighbors and discuss the things that plague us as a community, contrary to what is being reported in this city, VIOLENT crime is rising in Dallas City Council District Five!
Just tonight, we lost a dedicated and devoted Dallas Police Officer..right INside the corridor of District FIVE!
Just a few weeks ago a body was found murdered..in District FIVE!
Just a few days before that a life was lost in a failed bank robbery attempt...in District FIVE!
And the LIST DOES GROW LONG...
While crime appears to be going down in the city overall (and that is wonderful news), SADLY and NEEDLESSLY it IS on the rise in District FIVE!
I can not adequately express the pain my heart feels when I think about the wife and kids left to mourn the death of Senior Cpl. Norman Smith and countless other lives lost!
When does the bleeding stop? When does the violence stop? When does someone stand up and call for action?
I am reminded of my days in high school when I not only participated in, but led the charge on organizing town hall meetings and teen summits and hosting teen talk shows to address the out of control problem of gang violence in Dallas. As a result of my work around the city, Eazy Street featured me on many occasions as a guest host of his Monday night talk show on 100.3 Jamz titled : What's Goin' On. Positive progress by way of gang truces and a reduction in gang violence came as the result of some strong and successful collaborations.
Once again, violent crime is rising in the youth population (as both the offender and the offended) and once again we will collaborate as a collective community to effect change amongst US!
Again, the question is why continue to show up for the fight?
After others dog you out...
After others question your call...
After others question your motives...
After others attempt to ruin your reputation...
After others sit back and do NOTHING...
I WILL CONTINUE to show up for the fight to make a difference in my community and as David said (sermonic reference) ...don't let the babyface fool you...and I implore you to show up with me and beside me and let's work together to turn OUR community around TODAY!
The need is too great and the future too bright!
Let's Go To Work...
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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!
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!
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