The Dream lives on…….

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

As I celebrate and reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, I took the time to listen to his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and several others. Dr. King’s poetic and powerful words were not just wishes; they were prophetic declarations. Dr. King’s dream spoke about our freedom. We’re living in the freedom that our ancestors gave their lives, blood, sweat, and tears for. They didn’t fight just for black people but ALL people. The dream was about you and me. I encourage you read through his speeches, watch videos, participate in discussions or community service events this week in honor of his legacy. #BeEmpowered

I also revisited his speeches because I wanted to be reminded of my “Why” as I begin another semester of grad school. For those of you who don’t know, I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Urban Planning & Policy. Just to give you a little insight into my “Why”, I chose this degree program because while I LOVE living in the city of Chicago I’m also tired. Tired of seeing the disparities in black and brown neighborhoods. Tired of seeing poverty and crime strike the black community. Tired of seeing people displaced from their own neighborhoods because of gentrification. Tired of decisions being made by politicians, private developers/outsiders, and God knows who else concerning my own community and not having any input on what’s best for it. I AM TIRED! It seemed like the older I got and the more my eyes were open to the real issues of my beloved hometown Chicago. I wanted more for my people. I wanted change.

Community Advocacy Is My Lane

My degree program helped me center my career around Community advocacy and development. It is not my desire to secure a master’s degree just to say that I’m qualified to go into communities to tell them what they need to be better. NO. We see this happening enough in many underserved communities. One thing about Chicago is that there are strong (unsung) community leaders and organizations that stand on the frontline for their neighborhoods. My goal is to be an advocate and bridge for them.

A bridge to quality affordable housing, social services, economic resources, etc.

A bridge to long term and short term solutions.

A bridge to the tables that can give them a voice and real decision making power.

Community advocacy is my lane…..

I’ve centered my research around neighborhood change and economic development. So far I’ve mainly southside neighborhoods (#GirlFromTheSouthSide) but I hope to get exposure to other areas in Chicago for my last couple of semesters in the program.

“The Dream is yet to be realized………”

The cancer of systematic oppression is still very present in America. Our ancestors fought to end racial segregation and injustice and they succeeded in many ways. However, what I’ve come to learn is that our work now involves undoing the damage that systematic racism had on black and brown communities. We have to undo exclusionary policies and tear down systems of oppression that contributed to the poverty, crime, the wealth gap (DON’T GET ME STARTED!), and other detrimental effects we see in our communities This work didn’t end after the civil rights movement. It was just getting started!

I said all this to say that Dr. King’s dream is still yet to be realized. There’s still work to do. I have a dream to see impoverished communities in the city of Chicago revitalized, stocked with economic resources for families to thrive and feel safe in. I have a dream and a plan.

Spend this week reflecting on what your lane is and how you can actively participate in the fight for social justice and freedom. You have a part to play. You are the dream!

Sincerely,

Chelsa

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.