Hello, my name is Sarah. And I ask questions.
07.25.2009 // by: Sarah
I’m the coordinator of the Stand campaign, and some days I’m reminded how simple Stand’s message really is.
I spent yesterday afternoon in Avondale, a predominately African American neighborhood in East Chattanooga. I walked down Dodson Avenue passing out flyers for today’s BBQ with District 9 Councilman Peter Murphy. I’d driven through Avondale a few times, never stopping to get out of my car. Today I walked in gas stations, car washes, laundromats, hair salons, rec centers, fish fry tents, and street-side vendors. I’ll admit some nervousness when I first got out of the car, leaving my comfort zone behind. After all, I’m a very short 24-year old white girl, naturally reserved, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt. Talk about standing out!
But Stand gives me an opportunity to give other people a voice. And this makes me unusually bold. I walked in to the first gas station with a warm “hey, how are ya?” And realized within moments that I wasn’t talking with a demographic on the other side of town. I was just talking to people who live in the same place I do, inviting them to eat some BBQ and talk about how to make this a better place to live.
I believe that living in community means living in the context of others. When I take the time to look, I see a great deal of need in the lives of the people around me. I don’t know what the answers are. But I do know that it’s time for this conversation to take place - and every member of this community needs to be a part of it, knowing they’re valued, that their ideas are heard.
To me, it’s pretty simple. Stand isn’t a survey. It’s a conversation that starts on paper to continue face to face. It’s about People and it’s about Place.
Join the conversation today - at the District 9 BBQ at the East Chattanooga Rec Center, 2409 Dodson Avenue, 12:00 - 2:00 PM. We’ll be talking about home and giving away stand-out yellow t-shirts.
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