By: Saleem Muhammad
Summer in Chicago is half over and you’ve had a blast thus far. Your eardrums were messaged by the sounds of Omar Faruk Tekbilek at Millennium Parks’ Jay Pritzker Pavilion. You kicked-it with Mos Def at Streets 2010. And, more summer fun is sure to come as we cling to these remaining Dog days of summer. Well, my fellow Community Ambassadors, it’s time to get to work creating the change Chicagoland desperately needs. I hope that the reflections to follow inspire you to get moving and host a community conversation.
I had the pleasure of hosting two community conversations, and the experience was an eye-opener. I realize that we represent the leadership that Chicago neighborhoods yearn for. I came to this resolve as I listened to heartfelt testimonials about violence negatively impacting Chicago communities. I heard from Clergymen and concerned citizens in a hall of Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church. Father Mel was all too happy to offer the space. His generosity reaffirmed to me that interfaith cooperation is possible.
I cohosted community conversations with ambassadors that were of a different faith tradition than me. One was with Krystyna Soljan and the other with Kristina Bonesteel. I enjoyed working with them and we very much needed each other’s support. We talked, planned, and benefited from the talents of the others—and guess what? We became friends. But, more than anything, I can’t help but to feel a sense of pride within myself for being part of a community solution. For God knows we need everyone’s help.
