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by robinr from News

Last Post 10 days, 19 hours Ago


DO IT YOURSELF!
Jun 29, 2007 | 9:45 PM
Category: News
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Once considered a right-wing and rather heartless view of "needy" people, the idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps (even when you're barefoot), making yourself handy instead of taking hand-outs, self empowerment in place of government endowment ... these ideas seem to be taking hold. The Chicago Urban League recently announced it was "getting out of the social service business" in order to focus on building economic strongholds that deliver the "generational wealth" which has been so elusive in urban communities.

I recently profiled the Real Men Read program piloted by CPS this year. It is a way to improve student performance, especially boys, by tapping into the talent and charitable spirit of ordinary citizens. While educators are hoping for more funding to rescue a school system which cannot offer a decent academic experience at far too many campuses, this kind of creative strategy is part of a trend toward finding solutions from within. If you have ever been frustrated by the stories of failing schools, here's a chance to do more than throw up your hands .... lend a hand and volunteer one hour a month!

There is an initiative in the Austin community on the city's far west side which is also drawing on the talent of ordinary folks. Inspired by the well-known African proverb which observes that "it takes a village to raise a child", organizers from the Westside Health Authority asked "what does it take to make a village?" They came to the conclusion that every block should be a village. Ten years later, Every Block a Village (EBV) is behind a transformation of improved neighborhoods and empowered residents. Look for more on this amazing program on Fox News at 9 next friday night (July 6th).

Instead of waiting to be rescued, complaining and blaming outside forces, people are adopting the activist tradition once considered the bastion of left wing liberalism, and merging it with the conservative concept of individual control and responsibility. Who cares if it's right wing or left wing ... as long as it flies!

 

 

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Mark_Allen read my blog view my photos
Jun 30, 2007 | 4:42 PM

As you may know, Cheryle Jackson hired me as a Community Outreach Consultant to promote The Urban The Chicago Urban Leagues new Economic Agenda in Chicago Grassroots Black community.The League's program is the best tool since Operation Breadbasket.

We should look forward to new Small Black business development, Black owened and operated grocery stores, auto dealers, apartment complexes, manufacturing, gas stations, restuarants. I'm working a personal package to re-open the legendary Gladys' restuarants.

Maybe we can talk more, or you can even begin to cover the various developments of these projects. These and other projects need to be cover4ed to give people hope, other than how we respond to violence each week.
valentinemartin read my blog
Jul 2, 2007 | 6:18 PM

You are absolutely correct. It's refreshing to hear someone whose views are the same as mine.

Being employed means you are at the mercy of your employer, with no input into how the organization is operated, or giving "free" advice with no real monetary reward even when the company profits greatly from your suggestions.

Both black owned businesses and the violence that is perpretrated in the black community are being addressed and will soon be eradicated with the assistance of the bright, productive members of society who have joined together to bring an end to tear-down distructive aspects of society,and to return to the productive members of society blacks were and always will be.
yougotsomenerve read my blog
Jul 5, 2007 | 10:08 AM

You can't keep fooling and tricking the people.for some people life is sweet,But for the average person life is a living hell.Racial profiling by the chicago police,Nepotism,traffic court.politically connect.There are a host of problems in the black community.And who's going to solve the problem? You? The phony black leadership? This problem is like a merry go round people keep getting rich but the problem is still here.You got professional hustlers running the show.And as long as you have con artists running the show the problem will remain in place.
robinr read my blog
Jul 6, 2007 | 9:46 PM

So who IS going to address the problem? How about everybody? Do you feel so powerless that life must remain a "living hell"? The only source of your problems is external?

By the way, the story about Every Block A Village in the Austin neighborhood has been postponed until next week. Will keep you posted. Especially you, Mr. yougotsomenerve .. I'm really curious to hear your feedback.
yougotsomenerve read my blog
Jul 9, 2007 | 10:55 AM

Who is going to solve the problem? The people who have the power to solve the problem.I can help a person here and there.But this problem is so large it will take a nation to help out.Do you think that Mayor daley will help out.Do you think that Edward Burke will help out.I'm doing a lot to help out the community.What are you doing to help out?
yougotsomenerve read my blog
Jul 10, 2007 | 10:16 AM

The solution:You can't save everyone just deal with the people you can help and save from this madness on the streets.You have to bring law and order to the streets.This is where the police comes into play.The police has to be serious about the problem on the streets.Don't profile people,go after the criminals on the streets.Stop racial profiling,bring some trust to the people in the community.So they can help the police clean up the streets.There is a total breakdown in the educational system.As for as i'm concern it was done on purpose.You can't have magnet schools and then the rest of the system.You toss to the curb-side for corporate America to take over.A recipe for disaster.
yougotsomenerve read my blog
Jul 10, 2007 | 10:18 AM

It takes a village to raise a child.The village has fail the child!!It takes a nation to raise a child.We need a 1930's Roosevelt new deal type program.
robinr read my blog
Jul 11, 2007 | 9:36 PM

Check it out THURSDAY 7/12 on the Fox News Chicago at 9pm. Let me know what you think about Every Block a Village. I think they may be onto something important -- not a quick fix because it seems likely that there is no easy way out.
JP_Paulus
Jul 12, 2007 | 9:41 PM

my wife was talking when the story aired , so i didn't get to really catch any of it...is it available online? It sounds really interesting..i iwsh i had the details (i couldn't find it on this website, even though i caught that one COULD look it up on myfoxchicago(dot)com, according to the TV report.


If i understand it right, the idea has actually been around for years -- you might want to research the Christian COmmunity Development modvement...the national offices for the Christian Community Development Association is based in Lawndale, across the 290 (from Austin).

John Perkins, CCDA's founder, has a very interesting & effective perspective on it. Also, Entrenuity (entrenuity(dot)org) i shaving its camp this week --- aiming to have YOUTH create wealth & discover not how to work for someone else, but themselves, their community & God, and to use that wealth responsibly.
robinr read my blog
Jul 13, 2007 | 9:15 PM

thanks for the tip. I am going to look into Entrenuity. Sometimes old ideas get new steam from crisis conditions. Anymore out there?
yougotsomenerve read my blog
Jul 16, 2007 | 12:11 PM

If you take a look at the black communities all over the country.They have one thing in common.The businesses or merchants in the black communities are either Korean,Pakistani or from India.That didn't happen by accident but by design.How Why did these black politicians and the black church let this happen.The majority of the merchants in the black community are from a different country.You have red-lining by the banks.The banks will not invest in the black communities.And you have illegal immigrants working on construction projects in the black communities.Disgusting.
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robinr

Robin Robinson has been anchoring the evening broadcast at Fox News Chicago since it debuted in 1987. A veteran reporter and constant suppporter of efforts to improve the quality of life in what she considers the world's greatest city, Robin can also be heard each weekday evening during the 5pm hour on WGCI FM, 107.5 with a preview of the stories in the works for Fox News Chicago at 9.

Member Since: 11/15/2006


 

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