Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Other Chicago - Part II
Keith, Reverend Keith, heads a ministry called the Urban Youth Outreach in the heart of Englewood. Our three-person team from Moody (Katie, Walterene and I) was assigned to Keith to help him with community assessment as part of our survey training.
A short, bold guy with scruffy clothes, Keith radiated street-smartness and an energetic spirit. It was not hard to spot Keith, being the only white guy Keith was visible on the block.
There was something different about Keith’s block. Whereas the usual passing of faceless pedestrians, people seemed to loiter around Keith’s house. Instead of unconnected bystanders, there existed a kind of acknowledgement, a kind of recognized bond between them. They were not exactly doing anything in particular, but as a connected whole they knew exactly what was going on.
A “connected whole” or not, this was a group of people, a culture, that was frightening and at the same time intimidating to me. But apparently it was not to him. Living in that house in the thick of Englewood Keith seemed at ease with the people. His scruffy outfit and dirty fingernails actually fit the backdrop quite well. As he mingled, exchanged small talks and bodily communication with the crowd, it seemed to be an unfamiliar language for me to decipher.
After Keith had a pleasant talk with this kid, Keith told us his story. Apparently this guy had “borrowed” Keith’s truck last night. Keith managed to find out, through the street network of the “connected whole,” and retrieve the truck to its rightful owner.
“What? He just took your truck? Did you know him?”
“I know him now.” Keith said nonchalantly.
Apparently Englewood is governed by some different set of foreign rules. To imagine what would I have done if my truck was stolen, I would have probably filed a police report and within hours notified my insurance company and demanded a check. In Englewood however I probably would not last a day. In Englewood you need to know the people, because they are all a connected whole.
“Is it safe here?” It was one of those stupid question that you knew it was stupid to ask but you still ask stupidly anyway.
“Do you see that hole? 3 feet below my roof? There?” Keith pointed to the wall of the second floor of his house. “That’s a bullet hole. You will be fine, because people don’t start shooting until it’s later in the night.”
(to be continued.)
A short, bold guy with scruffy clothes, Keith radiated street-smartness and an energetic spirit. It was not hard to spot Keith, being the only white guy Keith was visible on the block.
There was something different about Keith’s block. Whereas the usual passing of faceless pedestrians, people seemed to loiter around Keith’s house. Instead of unconnected bystanders, there existed a kind of acknowledgement, a kind of recognized bond between them. They were not exactly doing anything in particular, but as a connected whole they knew exactly what was going on.
A “connected whole” or not, this was a group of people, a culture, that was frightening and at the same time intimidating to me. But apparently it was not to him. Living in that house in the thick of Englewood Keith seemed at ease with the people. His scruffy outfit and dirty fingernails actually fit the backdrop quite well. As he mingled, exchanged small talks and bodily communication with the crowd, it seemed to be an unfamiliar language for me to decipher.
After Keith had a pleasant talk with this kid, Keith told us his story. Apparently this guy had “borrowed” Keith’s truck last night. Keith managed to find out, through the street network of the “connected whole,” and retrieve the truck to its rightful owner.
“What? He just took your truck? Did you know him?”
“I know him now.” Keith said nonchalantly.
Apparently Englewood is governed by some different set of foreign rules. To imagine what would I have done if my truck was stolen, I would have probably filed a police report and within hours notified my insurance company and demanded a check. In Englewood however I probably would not last a day. In Englewood you need to know the people, because they are all a connected whole.
“Is it safe here?” It was one of those stupid question that you knew it was stupid to ask but you still ask stupidly anyway.
“Do you see that hole? 3 feet below my roof? There?” Keith pointed to the wall of the second floor of his house. “That’s a bullet hole. You will be fine, because people don’t start shooting until it’s later in the night.”
(to be continued.)
# posted by Gary Chou @ 10:07 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
I asked the rep why when I pay hundreds extra every month to pay down my. Inheritance advance information for attorneys. When you have urgent and sometimes unexpected requirement for cash instant cash. Locate a cash advance or payroll loan company to request your loan. [url=http://viiumft.rahuketu.net/map.html]cash advance one hour[/url] It39s called Federal Cash Advance and a caterer who works next door at. To find the quickest payday loans you need to look for fast loan processing.
Post a Comment
# posted by 
: 2:39 PM
: 2:39 PM << Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
