I speak to people. I don’t always expect people to speak back, but it doesn’t change my character. I just believe in seeing people and acknowledging them. Columbia itself is multi-racial and multi-cultural. The language and culture barrier lends to my understanding that, sometimes people don’t speak back. Often, I am the first to speakContinue reading “Columbia Speaks!”
Category Archives: community
Impression of Howard County by a new resident
I have been in Howard County for about a year. My family and I moved from VA. When we came house hunting, we loved our neighborhood because it was vey cosmopolitan. I understand that not all neighborhoods in HC are like this. However, the equity and racial justice training facilitated by HCLS gives me hopeContinue reading “Impression of Howard County by a new resident”
Heartwarming return
I had the pleasure of welcoming back a customer to the library that I haven’t seen for years because this black gentleman moved away for other opportunities. He was surprised that I remembered him even though he remembered me as a HCLS Instructor. I said to him that I remembered his kind eyes. Politely andContinue reading “Heartwarming return”
School Friends
I grew up in Howard County, and I’ve always been involved in diverse social groups and relationships. I’ve taught classes, played sports, attended school, coached teams, worked, and been a part of the community in Howard County for a long time. My outlook on race relations was strongly influenced by my interactions in Columbia schools.Continue reading “School Friends”
Proud to be in Howard County
I see people regularly in and around Howard County of all ethnic backgrounds sharing meals, events and life challenges. I see them hugging each other during a bad day. I feel Howard County is a center for kindness and inclusion for all ethnic backgrounds. I am proud to be a part of a county soContinue reading “Proud to be in Howard County”
Sweet treat
I went into a bakery run by Asian-American women in Howard County. I found a dessert that I had tasted in Asia and I was so happy to find it in Ellicott City. It was mochi — a powdered dumpling with red bean filling. I smiled and thanked the woman behind the counter. I likeContinue reading “Sweet treat”
Plant a Seed
As a children’s instructor I have the opportunity to teach a very diverse population. This opportunity provides me with a way to bridge commonalities between these populations through the content I share. It allows me to plant a seed of understanding and friendship in my classroom.
A garden grows hope
I feel a little sheltered these days with limited experience in the wider world of Howard County. That said I continue to report to work and that work takes me to a garden. In the garden I meet people from numerous place in HC and the world. In the garden conversations grow around flowers, vegetables,Continue reading “A garden grows hope”
I Maintain Hope
I live in a very racial and culturally diverse Ellicott City neighborhood. I have lived there for ten years now. I see children of different races and cultures play together, families meet together for lawn picnics. Neighbors stop and chat with each other at our cars as we come and go. In my small buildingContinue reading “I Maintain Hope”
Working together towards a common goal
A developer bought 3 houses in our neighborhood and was intent upon making a Dairy Queen in our residential area. Our entire neighborhood, very diverse, came together to petition against it and stopped the developer from going through with this plan. Many did not speak each other’s language but that did not stop us fromContinue reading “Working together towards a common goal”