Sometime ago we began a series of conversations to discuss the structures and systems that create opportunities for leadership, policymaking, and services. We then tried to determine the access of persons from underrepresented groups and underprivileged communities to those structures and systems. Additional conversations explored health, education and other disparities in underprivileged communities – particularly in African-American, and African Immigrant communities. Participants in the conversations included community members, businesspersons, activists, educators, nurses, students, administrators, cooks, beauticians, barbers, retired persons, etc.
As other discussions emerged, it was determined that the issue of disparities in underprivileged communities included all realms of life. It also became apparent to us that as African-Americans many of us did not have the "pick up the phone" connections necessary to maneuver our way competitively through various systems (health, education, jobs, finance, etc.). We found that our knowledge seldom returns to the community as a natural course of events; and that we seldom consulted with the community to determine the relevance of what we were being taught to community concerns and needs. We were taking our knowledge and ourselves away from our communities. We were becoming 'representatives' of mainstream, while our communities remained underrepresented/underserved/underprivileged.
We also were not informing the mainstream as to the relevance/non-relevance of our education to the needs of underprivileged communities. Our education may have prepared us to provide services necessary to keep the mainstream majority population well and growing, to the neglect of the underprivileged. As a collective whole, as a "village," we may have been guilty of an unintentional neglect. We want to become a part of the solution to the disparities that befall our underserved, underprivileged, and underrepresented communities.
These discussions were the beginning of "The Village P.R.O.J.E.C.T.S."
Our overarching goal now is to provide a place where we can come together in "open" dialogue with, and about, underprivileged communities and what we can do to contribute to the empowerment thereof. We create forums in which thoughts, ideas, and experiences can be freely discussed and engaged and meaningful collaborative projects as well as 1:1 proactive activities can emerge and make a difference. We compile the ideas from each forum meeting and group them into one or more of the three project categories ("Village of Mentors," "Standing in the gap," and/or "The Scholars Within."). We then assist in creating the network to support additional forums necessary to move the ideas into fruition. We connect and re-connect with our underprivileged communities as a source of empowerment. Ideas are generated from, and owned by, the communities served. Our participants are all volunteers with a commitment to making a difference. The Village P.R.O.J.E.C.T.S. are here to help others, to help themselves. Every participant in every discussion becomes a part of The Village P.r.o.j.e.c.t.s. Welcome! We invite you to make our home, your home. Please visit all rooms on this website, and grow with us! We can make a difference! We must make a difference!
email us at: villageprojects@aol.com
