Home » Do Not Stereotype Flatline Neighborhoods

Healthy relationships are essential in building community in your neighborhood.

Many people live in neighborhoods that they like. Many people live in neighborhoods that they do not like. Many people live in neighborhoods because they have an "I don't care" attitude. Many people do care about their neighborhoods. In today's chilling economic climate most people will have to live in neighborhoods because they have no other choice. People who pass by neighborhoods are quick to give it a label. Often these labels or descriptors about the neighborhood mirror the stereotype firmly etched in the mindset of the passerby. Some people who live in neighborhoods love the labels especially if it matches the name of their sports car and adds to their prestige. Some people who live in neighborhoods hate the labels because it matches their empty wallets and add to their misery.

We need to remind ourselves that people, human beings, parents and children live in these neighborhoods no matter the location and conditions in the neighborhood. These mothers love their babies no less than any other mammas. These dads like to play with their children no less than any other dads. However, it can sometimes be difficult to juggle your needs and wants. It can be difficult to hold down three jobs and to make time for your family, nurture your ego and massage your proud accomplishments. Some neighborhoods are doing well. They are peaceful, beautiful and quiet. Other neighborhoods are boisterous and ugly and there is nothing inviting or exciting about it.

I would humbly submit that these neighborhoods that are so scary to passersby are flatline neighborhoods. A flatline or inactivity on either an electrocardiogram or an electroencephalogram signifies the death of a human being. I believe that unlike human beings who have only one lifetime, neighborhoods have multiple lifetimes. However the sequenced measurement over time of a particular neighborhood can indicate wellbeing, degradation or a flatline neighborhood. A flatline neighborhood occurs when the risk factors in a neighborhood annihilates the protective factors. Crime, abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, unemployment and inadequate infrastructure and resources will exacerbate the impact of the risk factors and eventually result in a flatline neighborhood.

Not everyone realizes that life has meaning and purpose. Not everyone knows what they are living for or what their highest calling in life is. You realize that your life has meaning and purpose. You make the difference, so help me God, you cannot stay the same and exit this life and take up residence in your grandest bedroom ever, your coffin or casket. You cannot rest in peace until you find your purpose and niche especially for you; because only you can do what you do, best. You and your skills and resources are needed because we need to build community in neighborhoods.

We need to build community in our neighborhoods because we will no longer be pall bearers of the casket containing our neighborhood. We will be torch bearers of the reconstruction and development of our neighborhood. We need an epidemic of camaraderie, goodwill and good neighborliness. We need to help our children find their way before they get lost in the quagmire created by the compounding effect of the risk factors in the neighborhood. We need to engage our young people before they engage in activities that puts themselves and their neighborhoods at risk. We need to help our young adults embrace a vision and mission that will impact the quality of life of everyone in the neighborhood. We need to connect our older adults, our grandparents with valuable and dignified opportunities to continue serving community building efforts in neighborhoods. Our grandparents can engage in arts and crafts, reading and storytelling to incapacitated children, young people and adults. Why not mobilize a multi-generational team to paint a mural in a pediatric ward of a hospital or community hall?

 

How about starting with rejuvenated activities at our neighborhood, halls, parks, libraries and pools? The hostile forces of this chilling economy will leave us no option but to re-invent cost-saving activities. This economy has made a radical difference to our shopping habits. We used to go to the grocery store with a pocket full of dollars and we bought a cart full of groceries. Now however we go with a cart full of pennies and we only get a pocket full of groceries.

In flatline neighborhoods in America and around the world where there are almost no protective factors and almost no sense of community, those elements that can bring back life should be put in place. We need neighborhoods that are safe, healthy, vibrant and growth-producing. Flatline neighborhoods will come to life again when the risk factors are minimized. Policymakers, researchers, politicians, and civic leaders have a responsibility to lead rebuilding efforts in their neighborhoods. Flatline neighborhoods will have proper infrastructure and resources. Far too many flatline neighborhoods are still without accessible schools, libraries and healthcare resources. Governments should not wait until people in flatline neighborhoods start to protest and revolt because there is a tipping point when people will say, enough. How much further will you and I allow this exploitation of people to continue just because they are poor, and their color is not the same as ours, and they speak a different language?

All people in flatline neighborhoods need to know that we are all working together to co-create a community worth living in for all in our neighborhood.