America - Day 6
Today, I gate-crashed a Community Organisers meeting in South Philadelphia hosted by POWERhttp://www.powerphiladelphia.org/ I had found it on the web, whilst looking around for faith groups getting involved in their communities at grass roots.
This was a meeting organised by Catholic parishes in Philadelphia, to work together and address the causes of the social problems in the city. That might seem a tall order for a group of nuns, priests and well-meaning Church folk. But POWER connects faith people together, across groups, churches and religions. It's impressive, recently bringing together 20,000 volunteers and activists for it's living wage campaign in the city.
I walked through the doors of the catholic school and found a small meeting in the basement, this is where change begins, underground. The meeting had started and so I sat quietly at the back. During a pause, I was noticed and asked to introduce myself. When I got to the 'I'm from England' part, everyone turned around. The woman running the meeting got everyone to applaud. If only that happened every time I turned up to a church meeting. So here I was being applauded just for turning up - and late. I guess when you're trying to start a campaign, and someone turns up to your Saturday morning meeting from a long way-away unexpected, it's kind of encouraging. I also think that Catholic people, and church people in general are great at hospitality. I was made to feel very welcome in the school basement. They insisted I try one of their South Philadelphia hogies - it's food, and its delicious.
It was good, listening to the plans, hearing of how they were going to work together, reflecting on my own experiences. We split into groups for storytelling, not the Enid Blyton type, but our own stories. This is what I've learnt, that we all have a story in us, about who we are, why we are and what makes us who we are. Who are family is and who loves us. When we listen to each other's stories we can only work together, because we have begun to be together, we already share something by listening to each other's stories. This is how you build community. Not by standing on soap boxes blasting out your point of view, but by listening, to each other's stories. Rich or poor, it makes no difference, we all have a story to tell and its real : )
Today, I gate-crashed a Community Organisers meeting in South Philadelphia hosted by POWERhttp://www.powerphiladelphia.org/ I had found it on the web, whilst looking around for faith groups getting involved in their communities at grass roots.
This was a meeting organised by Catholic parishes in Philadelphia, to work together and address the causes of the social problems in the city. That might seem a tall order for a group of nuns, priests and well-meaning Church folk. But POWER connects faith people together, across groups, churches and religions. It's impressive, recently bringing together 20,000 volunteers and activists for it's living wage campaign in the city.
I walked through the doors of the catholic school and found a small meeting in the basement, this is where change begins, underground. The meeting had started and so I sat quietly at the back. During a pause, I was noticed and asked to introduce myself. When I got to the 'I'm from England' part, everyone turned around. The woman running the meeting got everyone to applaud. If only that happened every time I turned up to a church meeting. So here I was being applauded just for turning up - and late. I guess when you're trying to start a campaign, and someone turns up to your Saturday morning meeting from a long way-away unexpected, it's kind of encouraging. I also think that Catholic people, and church people in general are great at hospitality. I was made to feel very welcome in the school basement. They insisted I try one of their South Philadelphia hogies - it's food, and its delicious.
It was good, listening to the plans, hearing of how they were going to work together, reflecting on my own experiences. We split into groups for storytelling, not the Enid Blyton type, but our own stories. This is what I've learnt, that we all have a story in us, about who we are, why we are and what makes us who we are. Who are family is and who loves us. When we listen to each other's stories we can only work together, because we have begun to be together, we already share something by listening to each other's stories. This is how you build community. Not by standing on soap boxes blasting out your point of view, but by listening, to each other's stories. Rich or poor, it makes no difference, we all have a story to tell and its real : )