the ladies room » Seasons Come, Seasons Go... So Let's Dance Like We're 22

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:39 pm

april6263 wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:
Well Ladies, I just have to go.....still have some things I need to do before I turn in. It has been WONDERFUL talking with you all tonight.

If I don't *see* everyone before Sunday......Let me say to all of the sisters.

goodnight Luv and I love the rainbow eggs Happy Easter to you too

Good nite, Luv....Happy Easter!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:40 pm

april6263 wrote:
finally caught up...LOL....yay!! but I need to run now too....need to get some things done before bed....it has been so nice chatting with you all tonight good night everyone (((hugs)))

Good nite, April.....And enjoy your couple days at home! Christ is risen.... Hope niecey feels good while you're home.

KeepOnSinging · 3/25/2016 9:43 pm

JetmamaDiDi wrote:
KeepOnSinging wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:
He is probably right. You know, it would be nice if something like your community dinners hit the mainstream media, showing all of the "good" out there instead of all of the riots and such. That being said, I kind of hope that your dinners/groups kind of stay small and connected. When you get others involved, especially in a "take over" thing, you lose exactly what you were trying to accomplish in the first place. Does this make sense?
It absolutely makes sense. But we also know that we need to shape the inevitable growth that is coming. I have found, to my delight, that being almost 75 has been a plus. But is also helps enormously that I threw my lot in with an African American church in 2001. I am not viewed as an activist by other white people; but, to my utter surprise the white activists listen to me when I tell them that they are "barking up the wrong tree" with their top down initiatives. If we want to build trust, it has to be grassroots or from the bottom up. And when numbers drop you do not give up. Now it is obvious hat if we did a major publicity campaign, we could be getting 250-300 people to our dinners. So a small group of us is talking about how to pull this off while maintaining the wonderful vibe that permeates the dinners. The conversations at the last two dinners have been particularly good.

That is so great, KOS! I truly believe that only grassroots organizations can be successful over time. Your "maturity" (not just in chronological age!) is a plus because I'm sure you are perceived as the mother/grandmother figure for many young people. Based on what you've shared in the past, I know that you are willing and able to create harmony and trust among people in all walks of life. I'm sure you are aware of this, but it will be important, as your group grows, to keep it together and make sure that leaders from within are cultivated and grow to fully embrace the mission statement and goals you've set in place.

I wish you much success as you further this endeavor. I know you will continue to make it happen!

Thanks, Jet. I have to call it a day. You will enjoy this wrinkle: we are now on NAN's radar. National Action Network (NAN) is the organization that Al Sharpton founded. The young black pastor, with whom I work, and whose daddy and co-pastor is the most respected African American in the community, has taken a stand and refused to align himself with the press conference and meetings that NAN usually organizes with local black clergy. In fact no black clergy attended NAN's press conference this past Tuesday. The man who heads the Chicago chapter of NAN attended our last dinner. Never a dull moment.

I wish you and all our other sisters a wonderful and meaningful Holy Week weekend.

Last edited by KeepOnSinging (3/25/2016 9:48 pm)

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:48 pm

KeepOnSinging wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:
KeepOnSinging wrote:

It absolutely makes sense. But we also know that we need to shape the inevitable growth that is coming. I have found, to my delight, that being almost 75 has been a plus. But is also helps enormously that I threw my lot in with an African American church in 2001. I am not viewed as an activist by other white people; but, to my utter surprise the white activists listen to me when I tell them that they are "barking up the wrong tree" with their top down initiatives. If we want to build trust, it has to be grassroots or from the bottom up. And when numbers drop you do not give up. Now it is obvious hat if we did a major publicity campaign, we could be getting 250-300 people to our dinners. So a small group of us is talking about how to pull this off while maintaining the wonderful vibe that permeates the dinners. The conversations at the last two dinners have been particularly good.

I wish we had a KOS in every community. LOL Seriously, what you and the others are doing is fantastic. You are right about building up from the grassroots. You know, I think if people would just get together and talk (without being judgmental) but really listen to what others are saying and try to see it "from the other side".....just think what a better place this world would be.
At two different dinners we talked about empathy. Here is my shock. In the research I did, I cam across a sad statistic: in this country empathy dropped by 40% since 9/11. There was another shock. It is people who are highly empathic, who maintain their beliefs and their principles, but who are not judgmental; it is these people who spark action and real change. One of the more humorous things that has happened is that there was a vocal minority who began speaking up at the second dinner in Feb. of 2015. Their opinions went something like this: conversations was all well and good but we needed to be taking action, now. One of those people who had not come in a while showed up at our Feb./2016 dinner. I teased him and asked him how he felt now. so many initiatives are coming out of these dinners from several different people. By the way, tying with relationships to the police the biggest request was that we start a Beloved Community Choir. One very good decision we made at the very first dinner is that no one, not the mayor, not the police chiefs, not the superintendent of schools, not the district attorney, etc., is given a special welcome nor are they allowed to put their titles on their name tags.

Very interesting statistics about empathy. The thing that is missing most often these days among younger people in particular is beliefs and principles. Many haven't had the family and/or religious background to formulate principles that will ground them. As a culture we no longer seem to know how to have discussons based on facts and principles; rather emotions win the day. I also think since 9/11 cynicism has increased....and, truly, the burgeoning of iPhone technology has been both good and bad. People are hammered by stimuli, their attention spans are about a nanosecond, and increasingly things in the world of younger people is virtual rather than real. It is a complex situation....and it's not something that is going to go away. So there has to be adaptation. You are in a position to mold beliefs and principles through your dinners and community work...and I'm sure your conversations are addressing many of these things and more.

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:50 pm

KeepOnSinging wrote:
april6263 wrote:
KeepOnSinging wrote:
It absolutely makes sense. But we also know that we need to shape the inevitable growth that is coming. I have found, to my delight, that being almost 75 has been a plus. But is also helps enormously that I threw my lot in with an African American church in 2001. I am not viewed as an activist by other white people; but, to my utter surprise the white activists listen to me when I tell them that they are "barking up the wrong tree" with their top down initiatives. If we want to build trust, it has to be grassroots or from the bottom up. And when numbers drop you do not give up. Now it is obvious hat if we did a major publicity campaign, we could be getting 250-300 people to our dinners. So a small group of us is talking about how to pull this off while maintaining the wonderful vibe that permeates the dinners. The conversations at the last two dinners have been particularly good.

do you guys record the talks and share them anywhere????.....like you tube?????
The conversations occur at individual tables. If the tables seat 12 people, we suggest that there be two conversations. On each table are three cardboard towers with the same four discussion questions on each side. Sometimes these is a video or panel discussion on which the questions are based. Sometimes they are related to a national or even international incident; and sometimes we tie all this in to local racial issues. 20 minutes before the dinner is over, each group has a representative summarize what they have discussed during the evening. We know that we need to record those summaries in written form, and I have a friend who has volunteered to start doing this. There are no microphones on the tables. . Because we are getting inquiries from three other communities, two out of state, I am in the process of codifying all of this for other communities to use and adapt. My motto is from The Fellowship of the Ring. It is what Frodo reluctantly says. "I will take the ring, though I do not know the way." Wonderful people have arisen to help with different aspects.

I LOVE your motto, KOS...it's perfect! I know that you are finding the way....through faith, hope, and charity. Afterall, Frodo is legendary!

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Last edited by JetmamaDiDi (3/25/2016 9:56 pm)

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:52 pm

OK...I'm now done talking to myself!!!

Have a great rest of the evening...and triduum.

(((HUGS)))

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:55 pm

KeepOnSinging wrote:
JetmamaDiDi wrote:
KeepOnSinging wrote:

It absolutely makes sense. But we also know that we need to shape the inevitable growth that is coming. I have found, to my delight, that being almost 75 has been a plus. But is also helps enormously that I threw my lot in with an African American church in 2001. I am not viewed as an activist by other white people; but, to my utter surprise the white activists listen to me when I tell them that they are "barking up the wrong tree" with their top down initiatives. If we want to build trust, it has to be grassroots or from the bottom up. And when numbers drop you do not give up. Now it is obvious hat if we did a major publicity campaign, we could be getting 250-300 people to our dinners. So a small group of us is talking about how to pull this off while maintaining the wonderful vibe that permeates the dinners. The conversations at the last two dinners have been particularly good.

That is so great, KOS! I truly believe that only grassroots organizations can be successful over time. Your "maturity" (not just in chronological age!) is a plus because I'm sure you are perceived as the mother/grandmother figure for many young people. Based on what you've shared in the past, I know that you are willing and able to create harmony and trust among people in all walks of life. I'm sure you are aware of this, but it will be important, as your group grows, to keep it together and make sure that leaders from within are cultivated and grow to fully embrace the mission statement and goals you've set in place.

I wish you much success as you further this endeavor. I know you will continue to make it happen!
Thanks, Jet. I have to call it a day. You will enjoy this wrinkle: we are now on NAN's radar. National Action Network (NAN) is the organization that Al Sharpton founded. The young black pastor, with whom I work, and whose daddy and co-pastor is the most respected African American in the community, has taken a stand and refused to align himself with the press conference and meetings that NAN usually organizes with local black clergy. In fact no black clergy attended NAN's press conference this past Tuesday. The man who heads the Chicago chapter of NAN attended our last dinner. Never a dull moment.

I wish you and all our other sisters a wonderful and meaningful Holy Week weekend.

😂😋 You never know what or who you might come in contact with through doing good works! Enjoy the journey!! LOL

gabriele · 3/26/2016 2:31 am

april6263 wrote:
CEK40 wrote:
LOL......Okaaayyyy.......so this brings up an interesting question....on our sparks could fly column does it have to be the partner couple or can it be anyone????.....I mean last season....before she got back with Sasha the shipping fun was Alek/Emma ......and now.....welllll.....is Paige single???? .....can our sparks could fly be between ANY two people?????????....even 2 celebs??????

Yes, I'd suggest we don't limit ourselves in the shipping department. ;) There seems to be some doubt though that he is hetero, describing his sexuality as 'fluid' on Wiki. We might have an all male ship.

gabriele · 3/26/2016 2:45 am

april6263 wrote:
CEK40 wrote:
april6263 wrote:

this is awesome and....LOL....why do I think he is going to be awesome at the rumba?????....LOL
Hmmm Let me think about that...LOL

I posted the songs for this Monday night earlier today...they all are good for Latin Night
LOL.......ummmmmm......ummmmm...... I am wondering how many times Maks will show up for their rehearsals this week??????......LOL....just kidding

Did you hear what Kym said on All Access, that he dances like Maks. My thought too, when I saw them. I bet Maks demonstrates it and he is of course the best visual learner one could imagine. The show plays up the communication issue of course as that intrigues people.

gabriele · 3/26/2016 3:23 am

Glad our niecey can enjoy Easter at home and you of course, April! Have a happy Easter.