Sometimes I save something because it speaks to me, or because I see within it the seed of a future blog post. If I’m lucky, another thing comes down the road and reminds me of the first thing.
Remember this? Remember how you wanted to talk about how this could be relevant right here in Howard County?
Case in point, this September 7th piece from NPR:
Missed shifts were costly to this McDonald's. An app has fixed the problem.
Unexpected absences can cost employers tens of thousands of dollars a month. An app that helps workers with last-minute transportation, food and childcare is making a difference. - - Andrea Hsu, NPR
In order for us to understand why this story mattters, we have to acknowledge that some people experience barriers and challenges in their daily lives that we do not.
Period.
For example: we have to understand that if we want parents to engage in school events that we need to provide childcare. If we want neighbors to come to community meetings we need to provide food. We need to make our plans with the understanding that people have different work hours than we do, or may not have transportation, or speak a variety of languages in the home.
We have to have the capacity to care about the inherent value of those people and believe that their gifts and their potential are every bit as precious as those of us who are privileged to be able to navigate within our culture without continual stumbling blocks in our way.
No one “deserves” barriers and stumbling blocks. They are not a sign of inferiority. How often do we judge people who aren’t “doing what they are supposed to do” without realizing all the ways that we are perpetuating systems and practices that routinely exclude them?
Two days ago this caught my eye:
A Baltimore elementary school has cut chronic absenteeism rates nearly in half through a transportation initiative supported by a state grant and community collaboration.
SCHOOL REDUCES ABSENTEEISM WITH COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, Jenyne Donaldson
Here at home a well-known and respected local non-profit is in the process of creating a community center to actively address the negative impact of systemic barriers and stumbling blocks on young people in Howard County. This kind of multifaceted intervention will change lives.
But: in order for us to understand why The Source mattters, we have to acknowledge that some people experience barriers and challenges in their daily lives that we do not. Instead, the unaffected scrabble and claw at their ability to control how their neighbors will be treated.*
Do we understand? After the most recent primary election season, I doubt it.
*Ironically, multiple studies have shown that removing barriers /providing accommodations invariably provides benefits to everyone and not just the targeted group. A rising tide lifts all boats.
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