"Acting local, but thinking global in our neighborhoods:
Bianca Floyd, Black Ink Archives
I'm
a very big fan of being responsible to your community in a positive way.
I think we, as a people, sometimes take for granted the institutions and
professions that help maintian our quality of life. Most of us want to
reside in a clean, safe, and peaceful environment. Such a place gives
us time to raise a family, be a part of a larger group of families, and
contribute to our the world family. In my former job as museum director
of a historic house museum, the students of X2REP, Inc., supported us
our efforts to get a state grant for restoration of the historic roof
at Poplar Hill. The students spent the entire day with us in Annapolis,
going from one budget hearing to the next and spoke on our behalf. We
also took the time to tour the historic area, making a special visit to
Kunte Kinte Memorial site. It was one of those times when you feel present
in the moment, pleased at being involved in civic activities, while remembering
how far we have come as Americans. It was a wwonderful day.
I'm a child
of the sixties, being born in the fifties. My family moved to Prince George's
County in the mid-1960s. Police-community relations were less than great.
A lot of those tensions were racially based and it was not unusual to
see headlines regarding police brutality. As the demographics of the county
changed, the county's force changed with - for the better.
The county celebrated an important milestone recently, acknowledging a reduction in crime not seen since the 1970s. Click here to read more about it: