Category Archives: exclusion

Columbia Speaks!

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!”

Covid and African American community

Experiencing Covid vaccinations disparities. within Howard County the access to vaccine was extremely limited for some members of the African American community. Limited access to technology and transportation. Fortunately members of health community identified the need and implemented programs to address the disparities. Mobile vaccine clinic to areas that needed the resources. African American pt’sContinue reading “Covid and African American community”

Redistricting Plan

Howard County recently implemented a new redistricting plan where children from lower income neighborhoods would be bused to schools in higher income neighborhoods (and vice versa). Here are a few of the comments from Howard County residents that resulted: “Blacks destroy school systems and schools,” read one letter to county officials about the busing plan.Continue reading “Redistricting Plan”

HoCo is a Utopia for White People

HoCo is updating its General Plan. I have participated in several online Design workshops regarding the updates. I noticed that none of the illustrations used by the DPZ included non-white people. There were plenty of images of people enjoying the outdoor amenities, eating in outdoor restaurants, etc. In the post workshop survey, I commented aboutContinue reading “HoCo is a Utopia for White People”

Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms

I’m still so discouraged by the level of white entitlement and prioritization of their “comfort” we still see in our community. By my “liberal” white friends who express concern about issues that are served up to them by “moderate” and right-wing media explicitly fear mongering and seeking political advantage with white outrage. These issues areContinue reading “Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms”

Representation challenges

There are community-based organizations that struggle constantly to hear from new people and compel/motivate/provide avenues for all people of all backgrounds to be involved. We are in a constant circle of hearing that our elected board is not diverse enough (which is true and very apparent) and simultaneously seeing minimal turnout to vote for someoneContinue reading “Representation challenges”