The What For:
Over the past several years, as museum director of Poplar Hill, I have
both enjoyed and learned a lot from the District V Coffee Club. I attended
the weekly meetings to keep the community informed about our activities.
In fact, even though the museum is closed (temporarily) and I no longer
work there, I still attend. I write occasional stories about the issues
and events important to the communities that make up the southern tier
of the county. It is a pleasure and I find a hard time denying myself
of the opportunity to be an engaged citizen. Being an "engaged citizen"
is not an easy thing to do. Depending on where you are in life, residents
often see things differently. Each week, reprentatives of communities
as far south of the county as Aquasco, on up to Upper Marlboro, meet at
9 am. sharp in the community Safeway and they "make it work." (Yea, I'm
kinda using the Tim Gunn phrase...)
The residents discuss a host of issues from snow removal (the recent big blizzard), to planned road systems and housing developments, education, the impact of the economy on the local population. The group does this without being political. Politicians are welcome to attend, but taking care of community business is not a Democratic or Republican issue - it's all about the neighborhoods.
Why a Safewawy grocery store? Well, people walk in for their milk, juice, or
whatever grocery items they need. They'll see their neighbors discussing
issues relevant to their lives, and they are both welcome and invited
to sit in on the discussion. What's even better is that District V police
officers attend and give reports on what ever safety issues citizens should
be informed of. It is a give-and-take process - each entity being responsible
to the other. And by the way, kudos to Safeway management for facilitating such a great group as a service to the community.
The experience is like watching America at its best. For approximately, one hour and 30 minutes (often more), residents can sit in on a process and work out differences, challenge themselves to come up with solutions, and share in making positive changes where they live.
Nikki Giovanni wrote in one of her poems, (a favorite of mine) - "One ounce of truth benefits like a ripple on a pond. When things change, remember I smiled."
A Coffee Club meeting can be lively. It reminds me of that line from Nikki's poem. It's a "ripple on a pond," albeit a big one. When the meeting is over, it will certainly give you a reason to smile. You definitely get the sense that things will change - for the better - because of the work they do.
Let them eat cake!
Again?
