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

KeepOnSinging · 3/25/2016 9:23 pm

april6263 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.

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.

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:28 pm

KeepOnSinging wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:
KeepOnSinging wrote:

The dinners are going well and are attracting a lot of attention. I promise to write a post about all that has happened. In the meantime those of you who do Facebook. We have an FB page, Beloved Community of DeKalb County, Illinois. Activists from Chicago showed up on Sunday night. The price of these going well is that all sorts of folks now want to partner. Sometimes that means take over. My younger son, the singer wants to do a video essay about BMI (Black Male Initiative), their realtionship with both police departments (university and city) and the fact that when the dinners are not near campus, the NIU police chief and his officers provide rides for these young me. My son said, "This, I bet, is the only place in the nation that there is this kind of relationship between the police and young African American men."

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!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:31 pm

april6263 wrote:
JetmamaDiDi wrote:
CEK40 wrote:

LOL that is funny...the two dogs here are actually afraid of the Calico...they act big and tough until she charges at them....LOL

That's how our dogs have been too. If a cat turned on them, they were like.....Ohhhh.....sorry.....didn't mean to bother you!!!"
LOL....cats do have a way of swiping those paws that dogs don't like

Our last dog took on (at hubby's encouragement!) a ferrel cat on the (infamous) river bed!! Mama cat had some babies in the brush. So as the dog started to take her on, she raised her back and fur...he never expected she wouldn't run from him!!!!!! It is a "movie" in my mind that makes me laugh!! She actually had him upside down and rolling around on the ground!! And he was a 65# dog!!! LOL Dog was ok--and he never went after another cat that didn't provide chase!!!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:32 pm

april6263 wrote:
CEK40 wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:

How do they patch an ear drum? or do they heal on their own?
Well funny you should ask....they took a piece of skin from behind her ear and just laid it over the hole on her eardrum and it actually attaches itself by itself. She had to go back weekly to have him look at it and make sure it was healing properly...she was such a trooper when he was all in her her pushing and making sure it was doing what it was suppose to. That ear is her sensitive ear even today.
that is so interesting Cek

The human body is an amazing machine, isn't it?

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:34 pm

LuvSeason18 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.

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.

AMEN, Luv...but people would have to put down their iPhones and learn to communicate face-to-face, like we had to do "back in the day". What will happen when the KOS's of the world are no longer around to encourage and show that behavior by example??

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:35 pm

LuvSeason18 wrote:
april6263 wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:

We are a chatty bunch tonight. LOL
I know....I am still trying to catch up....lol....I have missed these chats
Me too.....and to think I was only going to be on for a short amount of time....lol

I've missed them too....and I see you all have left!!! Sweet dreams, ladies!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:36 pm

april6263 wrote:
CEK40 wrote:
april6263 wrote:

it can be.....do you think he would bond with a new dog or puppy??
I don't know April...I don't know if we are even wanting a new puppy or dog right now. This is really tough on my daughter and her hubby because they have never been faced with it before!

yeah I understand that ....they are so much more than just pets....they become family

Yup....they are like humans...and lots of folks treat them like their kids!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:36 pm

LuvSeason18 wrote:

Perfect, Luv!!!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:37 pm

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.

Thanks, Luv....and back at ya!

JetmamaDiDi · 3/25/2016 9:38 pm

april6263 wrote:
LuvSeason18 wrote:
april6263 wrote:

Oh I hope they did well and I hope D2 got to go to the meet
Yes.........and we need a R2D2 update.........hopefully, their circuits are still going strong. LOL
yeah.....we do need an update on them

Hopefully we'll get one...and hope vmmm's daughter is feeling better.