I previously told you about a speaking engagement that I was going to be doing for the Hope Project, a group that helps teens that have been in gangs or simply need help getting on the right path.
Rather than give you a play-by-play, I want to share some photos with you that I took after the kids took part in an exercise. What they were tasked with doing was writing down things that like to have/not have in their community, and then also write down how to go about getting those things.
Before you enlarge the photos below, take a moment and think about what you’d like to have in your “ideal” community. Seriously, give it some thought. Now, compare your thoughts with the kids. The photos are organized by the groups the kids were in. The left hand column is things they want/don’t want, and the right hand column is the solution they came up with.
More grass, more trees, less drugs/violence, new apartments (clarification – upgraded project housing)… this is the lens these kids see through.
The night was extremely worthwhile and as I was leaving one of the guys leading the group that goes by Mr.T said,
“Yeah man you did great. Some of them typically fall asleep at things like this. You had them laughing and engaged the whole time.”
I’m good with that.
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