Year of the City

For this week’s event analysis, I attended the ceremony for the end of the Year of the City, “Looking Back and Moving Forward.” The event began with a musical selection from the Loyola College Chapel Choir that reflected the ideals of the Year of the City initiative. The words spoke of freedom for all, the ability for all to live without fear, the ability for all to have food to eat and water to drink, the ability to live in a shelter, the ability for all to belong, and the ability for everyone to be heard. Each of the events of the Year of the City in some way allowed for people in Baltimore to experience these freedoms.
Fr. Linnane began by a few short remarks on the Year of the City. He talked about what inspired him to make this year the Year of the City and said that after hurricane Katrina, a great American city was destroyed and it changed the way we think about racial and class politics. Unlike many of us who are blessed enough to have family and friends to rely on when in need, a majority of the residents of New Orleans did not at the time and still do not have access to such resources, and they were forgotten. In a similar way, many of the residents of Baltimore are forgotten; they are lost in between all of the shops, restaurant and other tourist attractions. Fr. Linnane said that the events made him question how we interact with Baltimore and I had never really thought about how we interact with the city we live in until Fr. Linnane mentioned how connected the history of Baltimore is with the history of Loyola. It makes us think about how distanced we really are from the city and its inhabitants while we remain within the “bubble” that Loyola, the College of Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins University create. The transportation assignment allowed me to see how sheltered I have been from the reality of Baltimore. Behind all of the glamour of the city live people who do not have many of the comforts of daily life that we take for granted everyday. I felt that a major part of this event was to inspire the Loyola College community to continue to make a difference in Baltimore and in the lives of people who matter, and as Fr. Linnane said, we should take what we have learned from this year into our educational experience in the future.
The speaker was Rodney Barker who created the Baltimore Cultural Tour and had three students from Loyola come to the event and speak about their experiences. Although each student had different experiences, many felt that the Baltimore Cultural Tour had exposed them to a side of Baltimore that did not know existed. The second student talked about how much he had dreaded a trip to Fort McHenry and regrets feeling that way because he said it was one of the best trips he had been on. He learned about the history of the Star Spangled Banner that was written as Francis Scott Key over looked Fort McHenry. It made me realize how much history this city built upon and took me back to the visit that I made to the Reginald D. Lewis Museum of African American History. So much of Baltimore is what it is today because of the contributions made by African Americans in history and we forget this so easily. I had not known the Baltimore seafood industry is successful today because of the hard labor put in by slaves and the effective methods they created through their learning process, and there are many other museums that highlight the significance of many forgotten historical figures in Baltimore.
Jessica Kimak of Loyola’s Habitat for Humanity House talked a lot about what it is that has been done to help the homeless in Baltimore. What really made me think about the high rate of homlessness in Baltimore was when she mentioned what a friend had asked her. Her friend wanted to know why it is that there are so many unoccupied homes in Baltimore if there are so many that have no homes. As I drive home everyday, and leave the city, I pass hundreds of old homes that are boarded up and nearby are old men and women begging passing cars for money. It is hard not only to watch them beg in their condition but what is more difficult is watching them stand in front of these empty homes while they have no place to stay. She then said that a woman from Habitat from Humanity told them that the organization could easily obtain these homes if they had the funds to do it. I found it interesting that many politicians seek to further the tourist industry and forget about their people that make this city what it is today. More important than generating revenue and attracting tourists is taking care and remembering the inhabitants if the city and making sure that they have at least have their basic needs fulfilled. The members of this organization built a home for a woman named Katherine, which took two years and cost around $50,000. Jessica said that many may think that its just one home, but from the look on the Katherine’s face, it was one home that was worth building. After watching the power point of the building process and the presentation ceremony, I thought that even though it may just be one woman or home, it is one less homeless person on the streets of Baltimore and one more home that is making a difference.
My personal favorite presentation was made by Amy Maher, from the St. Mary’s School of the Assumption/ Loyola College Partnership. She began by telling us her favorite saying, “It is not that people do not care, it is that they do not know.” After hearing that, I again thought of how much raising awareness could do to help make a difference. I was never that I did not care about the rising levels of crime, violence, and poverty in Baltimore; it was just that I had never taken the time out to know. I had never actually ventured out into the city to see how it was that I could make a difference in the growing number of homeless people, and the times that I think to help I never knew how to. Her presentation highlighted the difference that the partnership between St. Mary’s School of the Assumption and Loyola College made in the lives of the children. From what I have heard from friends who volunteer at that school, I have come to realize that even a small contribution makes a difference and what could be more important than helping a child less fortunate that yourself. I have worked with children whose families faced financial problems and their parents face difficulties everyday as they venture out into the city looking for work, and are unable to find anything because they do not speak English. When I was in high school, my friends and I volunteered at the St. John’s Lane Elementary School P.A.C.E program. Every night, we could help children and their parents learn about American culture and language and at first it was difficult for me to understand why it was that many gave up in the process. I take for granted everyday that I can speak English and am able to communicate with the people around and I could not see the frustration that these parents faced as they attempted to learn a new language do they may be able to support their families. It sounded strange to me that English stood in the way of these families living the very comfortable life that I live. More rewarding than the recognition that we received while we volunteered was the look on the parent’s faces as they slowly began to comprehend the language after much struggle, and happiness of the children as they saw the hopeful look on the faces of their parents. Amy’s power point highlighted the rewards of making a difference in the lives of young children and from the laughter in their faces, it was easy to see that the smallest thing can in every child no matter how small make a lasting impression.
It was not until this event that I truly understood the purpose of the Year of the City and I have fully realized the great impact it has had on Baltimore. From the building of a new home, to working with children in the city, every event has made a difference in the lives of the inhabitants of Baltimore. The Year of the City has inspired many to venture out into Baltimore; beyond the boundaries of Loyola and other the other institutions that surround the area, and take the time to help those in need and remember the forgotten people that live in this city.