Community

Civic Engagement and Community Building “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement , and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” —- Man In The Arena, Theodore Roosevelt, April 13, 1901, Sorbonne, Paris With this motivational quote, Michael Robinson, Director and Facilitator of Temple University’s Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative (NOW) opened the floor to Spring 2019 participants to discuss the how to build a community engagement project in Philadelphia. His intellect and zest for life is contagious, he has set out to build foundational blocks of civic engagement for all participants who represent the rich and diverse mosaic of Philadelphia. Native Philadelphians from the North of the City who have been at the forefront of community based humanistic approach and community building in the devastating drug crisis to a sensitive soul who writes spiritual poetry to uplift all no matter faith, creed and status. On the first full day of Spring 2019– under cloudy skies and steady rain he planted the seeds of Teddy Roosevelt on every participant who has had the transforming experience of getting career and professional development workshops every Thursday evening for two hours. Robinson’s vision is clearly crafted and presented by his creative approach to re engineering the lives of every student who has been accepted into the program. His can-do attitude and his leadership development have planted seeds for a new generation of professionals seeking to contribute and grow through civic engagement, volunteerism and empowerment. This initiative needs to be funded and supported throughout all cities in our Nation. Higher Education Institutions are pillars of our fabric. Contributing to the professional and community development of all citizens is a tangible civic engagement contribution. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Who We Are Civic Engagement and Community Building April 13, 2019/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More Register to Vote:  Rise Strong! March 13, 2019/No Comments Register to Vote: Rise Strong! Municipal elections are taking place in many cities across the nation from New York to Read More CALL TO ACTION – CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING February 13, 2019/No Comments CALL TO ACTION – CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING The recent federal government shutdown has highlighted the imperative need for community Read More

CALL TO ACTION – CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING The recent federal government shutdown has highlighted the imperative need for community activists to continue to work on capacity building and to create viable coalitions across the Nation and the global community. We build communities not Walls. Our hard work edifies communities across the Nation and throughout the world. Money wiring to Latin America and throughout the world to immigrant communities have and continue to create domestic growth and economic opportunity. We have built communities and endure being victims of violent crime, systemic racism and public institutional neglect. There is an economic and banking crisis looming at our doorstep. A crisis fabricated and sustained by the erosion of regulatory protection of consumers, farmers and small businesses. The time is ripe, and we have standing to address the issues we are facing from the adverse impact of the shut down to the need of addressing true criminal justice reform. The American Dream has left us and for many of us in our respective immigrant and Latino communities, the dream has never been obtainable as systemic failures in how elected officials and the federal government have neglected public institutions and public programs that seek to serve us. This is a crucial and defining moment in our identity as Americans of Latino descent in the United States and as members of the global village.  The current social and political climate calls for organizing block by block and to demand action and accountability from our elected representatives. If our call to action are left unheard and dismissed, let us mobilize and register to vote, with the goal of getting the vote out. The tide needs and must be turned around! Mere complaining and or making a reference to the systemic racism and backlash we have and continue to endure are not working. Build yourself first and while in the process take a moment and encourage a neighbor and a fellow citizen to become part of the civic fabric. Our past defines us as people who come into neighborhoods and areas crime ridden and poor and with our vision and ingenuity, we develop boulevards of prosperity. The present is here, and it is ours and of our brothers and sisters who are also striving for better public institutions for their children and communities. We are all connected and affected by the social, educational and political crisis our nation is facing. We are all impacted by it.  Sit with yourself and courageously take a step towards your self-edification, become an agent of social change. The future is now, Juntos Podemos! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Who We Are CALL TO ACTION – CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING February 13, 2019/No Comments CALL TO ACTION – CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING The recent federal government shutdown has highlighted the imperative need for community Read More