Sometimes beauty and opportunity can be found in unlikely places. Southside Blooms is one example. Quinlen Blackwell decided to leave his privileged life (yes he is Black but grew up in a white-collar family). He moved to the Southside of Chicago to reclaim vacant lots and turn them into flower beds. That's right, amid boarded-up housing and gang territory he planted flowers. However, the flowers were not his purpose. His purpose was to provide jobs for poor neighbors and provide hope. Besides, think about how beautiful a vacant space can become! He hired folks to work the lots and then sold the flowers to help create more jobs.
1. Jobs are in short supply in the inner-city.
2. Hope is a byproduct jobs. Joblessness can destroy hope
3. Community takes away the isolation and brings a sense of belonging. Belonging helps take away the pull of gangs
What opportunities are around you to change today's narrative into something positive? What ideas can you share with others and take action to make a difference? Have you heard of other ideas that have brought needed change? Please comment and let us know your dream.
Here are the links to a couple of stories about Southside Blooms:
(c) Wally Johnston 2020
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