A Sense of Place

The theme for this year's TEDxMidAtlantic conference was "A Sense of Place":

"Our existence is defined through our experience of place: our place on Earth, in the universe, in culture, and in time. Understanding place is critical to the spread of knowledge, ideas and to progress. From the smallest sub-atomic particles to cities, to galaxies and undersea mountain ranges, everything has a place. TEDxMidAtlantic 2011 celebrates and explores place, mobility, context, and locality – and humanity's ongoing desire to achieve a sense of place."

What we learned more and more as the day progressed, was not only that we do not understand and appreciate our place on Earth, universe, and culture properly, rather that we have lost a sense of community and belonging in our local neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and cities. We do not embrace what each individual has to offer and bring to the table to build better communities rather we keep alienating and ignoring them. The Wire cast shared their experiences of growing up in poor areas of Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Washington D.C. and how after thirty years not only things have not changed for the better, but that they also have lost the sense of community in those neighborhoods, their only shelter and protection against violence and poverty, their only source of hope and encouragement.

In fact, I learned a disturbing fact from Rebecca Renard of DC's Public Libraries who noticed teenagers out of school with no work hanging around in her library without receiving any love, care, education, and attention. She mentioned that how people who lived, worked, and commuted to/from the Gallery Place China town area in D.C. were bothered with noisy loitering teenagers in the area and complained to city officials about them. What was the city's solution to that problem? Get rid of them! They installed Mosquito noise devices at Gallery Place China town, a noise that only teenagers' ears were sensitive to [1]. I cannot think of a more humiliating and offensive approach to the youth. Instead of trying to employ and educate them, the city sent them away to make them someone else's problem, and then they are surprised by seeing gangs and crime rates increasing. It is a sad story for the so called capital of the free world* int the 21st century!

Rebecca Renard recognized all the potential, talent, and energy that was being wasted daily by teenagers hanging around in her library and city. She made a social network aimed for teenagers to learn about activities of value and interest to them, to learn from each other, and run a radio together [2]! She engaged them, created a welcoming and supportive environment for them, and let them shine and grow. Something city officials should have done.

National Youth Rights Association filed a complaint and had the noise maker devices removed, but the youth problems and their need for care and attention remains [3].

Do you know your neighbors? Their kids? Your kids' school friends and teachers? Do you have a good community? Are you of any value to your local communities? What are you waiting for?

References:

[1] Mosquito noise device at Gallery Place aims to annoy potential troublemakers
[2] Generation PRX, Youth Radio Producer's Hub.
[3] DC City Council: Fight Youth Crime, Not Youth
[4] Rebecca Renard
* A slogan of one of D. C. area's radio stations.