L.A.K.E.- A Thought For Our Times

[Gary Rice]

When my family moved to Lakewood in the 1950's, my family was welcomed by many people. There was a Welcome Wagon experience, where we were greeted by a lady with gifts from neighborhood merchants. The church and school both took us in, with equally welcoming gestures, and people on our street quickly became friends and neighbors.

That was then.

Today, I for one, feel very blessed. I have a good pastor, good tradespeople, a great attorney, and many other business and personal friends around town.

Perhaps you do too. Many others do not. We need to widen the circle of friendship for them.

Last night in a dream, or possibly a vision, I saw something else; alluded to by many in the Observer community. That would simply be, that we have an opportunity to build on the Observers' mission for greater community involvement- by something like this:

L.A.K.E.- Love and Kindness Enabled

W.O.O.D- We Offer Others Dreams

LAKE could simply be a citizens' volunteer group comprised of Lakewoodites who want to help others, as needs arise.

This informal association would help as a fast-response referral service for those in need. Our association would be all of us, willing to volunteer as we are able. This list of volunteer caregivers could include:

Teachers willing to hear about a child's school problem, possibly helping with a homework question, or to go with a parent to school for a conference.

Lawyers or accountants willing to provide a bit of informal, pro-bono advice to people in a jam.

Tradesmen willing to provide advice, or even limited free assistance for the myriad of problems that Lakewoodites face around the house.

Pastors willing to marry, bury, or just lend an ear as the need arises.

Each and every talent would be needed and necessary, if for no other reason than to show caring and outreach to people who find themselves in desperation (and who among us has not felt that way, at one time or another?)

This association would not be meant to take work away from tradespeople or professionals. The help provided would necessarily be limited, but it is so necessary.

LAKE should not become a formal organization. No money whatsoever should be involved, or received, by LAKE volunteers.

All we would need would be you, and perhaps a loan of a desk, phone, internet access, and the will to go forward to help others. The bare bones of the operation could be out of a church office, or a broom closet- BUT IT SHOULD BE PRIVATE, AND NOT GOVERNMENTAL. Some people would rather talk informally one-on-one at times, before the "system" comes into play. Of course, LAKE volunteers would have to report knowledge of crimes or abuse, as would any citizen. That message would need to be stated to every caller, at the beginning of every LAKE call.

As far as liability, I'd have to check with an attorney, but I think we have a "Good Samaratan Law" in Ohio, allowing people to selflessly help others in their hour of need, without fear of frivolous liabilities.

Lakewood citizens, helping citizens at the grass roots level, might help to avoid matters reaching boiling points.

LAKE might not simply address poverty issues either. Even the wealthy sometimes do not know where to turn. They too need friends. So do we all.

An old Quaker thought was that Peter said this, Paul said that, but they are dead and gone now. This is thy time. What sayest thou? All God has is thee.

[Charyn Compeau]

First, let me say I love your thoughts and ideas and this is no way is meant to discourage you.

I am wondering, however, how many of these services are already offered in Lakewood by youth services, the Christian Service Center, or any of the other wonderful resources we have.

Certainly the more that want to lend a hand the better - but perhaps this type of group can be an aggregator for the services that already exist while filling in the gaps?

With respect,
Charyn

[Gary Rice]

Hi Charyn,

Great thoughts, thanks!

I guess my thought was that every "organization" has parameters and limitations, whereas a voluntary citizens' council would only be limited by the imagination of the participants.

Of course I would hope that LAKE could refer people quickly to appropriate services available. One of LAKE's functions, at least in my mind, would be to serve as an information desk for community services. By the LAKE telephone, would be a list of all services offered by the different groups, including the hotlines.

In my mind, it's not that we in Lakewood do not offer quite a few "official" services, but that informal citizen-to-citizen contact can help people to better network with non-governmental/organizational others who might be able to help out with their particular cases.

[Gary Rice]

I suppose that my point with LAKE is to suggest that we as a community start looking at proactive grass-roots ways that we might address some of the social issues before our city.

Many of the social service agencies, as well as law enforcement, spend quite a bit of time on the effect part of the equation. Concerned citizens might help in addressing the causes involved, before things get out of hand.

As people have indicated in other postings, police and citizens years ago were cognizant of some of the human concerns in the city, and were therefore often able to handle those in a low-key way.

Some in Lakewood have expressed concerns about outside "elements" being part of our problems. While there certainly seems to be some statistical validity to their viewpoint, the fact remains that when human beings come to live in Lakewood, they are therefore Lakewoodites, and need to be regarded as such.

I am troubled by people trying to define the "real" Lakewoodites.

"Us vs them" thinking could lead us down a slippery slope; not unlike Nazi Germany's- where people with differences were isolated, euthanized, or rounded up and sent to "camps in the East".

Unfortunately, in the absence of socal services, we have fewer options for people with exceptionalities. All too often these days, the solution ends up being imprisonment.

Greater compassion is needed here for our needful souls. Otherwise, as Pastor Niemoller indicated- the next one they come for- could be you.

[Justine Cooper]

I think your ideas are awesome and much needed. Sign me up for whatever you need. I agree that agencies have limitations and hours that they are closed! How many days does it take the Amish to build a barn? One or two because they all show up for each other. I am not from Lakewood and consider myself a Lakewoodite. You don't have to be born here to care about the city or the people. Grass roots could mean something as simple as getting some women to each bake a meal when there is a sick child in the home, or a new baby. Many of us have no family here, and those tiny gestures mean more than even what agencies can do sometimes. I have worked for several non-profits and hold them up high for what they do. But what citizens can do to supplement goes a lot further. I was called to take a child to pre-school because his mother had cancer. She was a Lakewood resident and died months later, leaving three children. It tugged at my heart enormously and I found myself wondering how we could start something in Lakewood to bring volunteers into homes to help clean, cook, watch children, etc., things that agencies cannot provide. This beautiful woman, Sharon, laid on the couch with no air conditioner until Jim O'Bryan and I got one donated for her. How many people have things like that sitting in their garage that could be donated to a family like that? Sign me up, and my husband who is a master's degree therapist for what you need!

[Gary Rice]

Justine,

Thank you for your response to this post. Let's see how it develops over the next few days.

By the way, you are a Lakewoodite in my eyes. That was established by your heart.

Yes you are right, we need more proverbial Amish barn-builders to serve nothing less than the souls of our neighbors.

We are so good about sending money overseas, or to charities vague and distant.

As to taking care of our own? About a hundred people have viewed this thread today. Only two responded in any way, and yours was the only offer to help.

People seem so quick to have opinions, yet so slow to roll up their sleeves.

They might quote Ghandi, about being the change that we would like to see.

Or from the Christian scriptures: How many serving the poor and afflicted have entertained angels?

So many have opinions, but what do the troubled among us have?

So many words, but how many will bear good fruit?

Thanks for your kind expression. Again, let us see where this goes.

[Kenneth Warren]

Gary:

I like very much your vision and values, and the rich intelligence and spirit you bring to us with L.A.K.E.

When I think about implementation, community alignment and efficient leveraging of organizational infrastructure, there are two organizations that come immediately to my mind that could be broached for an exploratory conversation should you believe the beautiful innovation you have envisioned fits their people and platform in wise and compelling ways: 1) Lakewood Christian Service Center, which could use an infusion of effort and support; 2) Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation.

Yet I recognize that you might want to travel lighter, with less organizational and bureaucratic weight.

Jason Weiner has been involved with the Cleveland Collectivo, a more informal model that might be more in line with the spirit you are proposing.

At the same time, the Lakewood Observer is a platform for advancing the alignment of visionary action and agents.

You have started something. I am not sure if you have ever explored Edgar Kahn's Time Dollar work. But I would be interested in whether or not you see any affinities or creative adjustments of your vision through such a program.

In addition, I have been involved with a group Chris Trapp has termed “the Lakewood Food Collectiveâ€Â

[Justine Cooper]

Thank you for your thoughts. I mean it when I say call me for what you need. I believe wholeheartedly in Collective Consciousness, and if every city had people that reached out to its own community, the country would be different. It absolutely takes a village to raise a child, or help a struggling mom, or a laid off dad before he loads a gun. I hope your project takes off.

[Gary Rice]

Justine, Ken, Jim and all,

Thanks so much for your replies this evening, and to you Jim, for your private message.

As Ken wisely alludes, these things take time.

A seed, once planted, takes a little time to germinate. It needs a little time, a little sunlight, a little fertilizer, and a whole lot of love.

And it will never, ever, grow up quite the way you think it will.

That Great Old Book says that some seeds fall on the rocks, and that some will be trampled upon.

But some seeds fall on fallow ground.

It will remain to be seen what this little seed does.

But no, dear lady, this is not my seed. This came in a dream, a vision.

In my many years with Native Americans, I know well what that means.

In Native American parlance:

Grandfather has given an opportunity through this vision once again for us to follow the red road of honor, peace, and justice.

Our threads were becoming too divisive, too bombastic, too argumentative. Too much energy is being spent on the problem rather than the solution, which at the last, is always for us to love one another.

I may not make the meeting tomorrow Ken. A few family things need to be done. Please let all know that I'm sorry I can't be there.

Migwich, that is, Thank you all, in Algonquin

[Heidi Hilty]

Gary,
I'm in for whatever chores need doing for someone in need. Let me know how I can best help.
Heidi

[Gary Rice]

Thanks so much Heidi,

I thought I saw the earth start to wiggle a bit where that seed was planted.

We will see.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Justine, Ken, Jim and all,

Thanks so much for your replies this evening, and to you Jim, for your private message.

As Ken wisely alludes, these things take time.

A seed, once planted, takes a little time to germinate. It needs a little time, a little sunlight, a little fertilizer, and a whole lot of love.

And it will never, ever, grow up quite the way you think it will.

That Great Old Book says that some seeds fall on the rocks, and that some will be trampled upon.

But some seeds fall on fallow ground.

It will remain to be seen what this little seed does.

But no, dear lady, this is not my seed. This came in a dream, a vision.

In my many years with Native Americans, I know well what that means.

In Native American parlance:

Grandfather has given an opportunity through this vision once again for us to follow the red road of honor, peace, and justice.

Our threads were becoming too divisive, too bombastic, too argumentative. Too much energy is being spent on the problem rather than the solution, which at the last, is always for us to love one another.

I may not make the meeting tomorrow Ken. A few family things need to be done. Please let all know that I'm sorry I can't be there.

Migwich, that is, Thank you all, in Algonquin

Gary

One of the foundations in the Observer Project and one we do not amplify enough. Is what we call the "shepherding process." Many on the board are very serious about doing things. We are also very serious about empowering others. The simple thought is the more empowered the more people we have working on things and in this city we have many things that need working. The Observer was started to help non-profits raise awareness, volunteers, and funding.

You would not be the first person to being a project up on the board just to find out there were also head of the project. What the Observer can do is get like minded people together, promise the ability to get their message out, and possible throw some funding into the project, from us and our advertisers that love to support efforts like the one you mentioned. On the Observation Deck we have a great deal of people that could be described as the powerhouses of the city. Ken Warren(Director of the award winning library and Lakewood Christian Services) Dave Shaw(06 President of LCPI/Mainstreet), Jennifer Hooper(Mainstreet), Shawn Juris(Jaycees), Heidi Hilty(Lakewood Project, Observer), DL Meckes and DH(more than can be said here), Justine Cooper(Cinderella's Closet), Lakewood Hospital, First Federal, Geigers, The Bin, Michael Flenor(Cleveland Restoration), Mazie Adams(Lakewood Historical), Mayor Tom George, All of City Council, School Board, most churches and on and on and on.

What I would call the heart and soul of doers in town. The paper is there to be the trumpet that calls attention to their efforts and to call for more volunteers.

The single greatest power of the Observer is the trumpet call. Tim Listen wanted to start a Bike Lakewood, the trumpet was blown and in hours, it was formed. Last year Ken Warren blew the trumpet for Food security, and it happened. Recently Chris Trapp blew the trumpet for Community Gardens and it is happening, and on and on.

We can offer any of these groups anything from a simple announcement, to advisers, full websites that can handle anything anyone else offers, printing, signage, clothing, from professionals willing to give what they can to make this city more of a community. We offer non-profits FREE websites, FREE Virtual Meeting Rooms, our advertisers offer them great discounts on anything from printing to labor.

When the advisory board laid out this project, it was our feeling, and still is the more of these groups and residents we can bring to one ever growing all inclusive table, the better off we all are. Some members from the Historical Society might want to grow heirloom tomatoes in a Community Garden, Some one from Bike Lakewood might have an interest in the Historical Society. Maybe Michael Gill can get more people to our Spring Clean Up of the Railroad Tracks. etc. Together we can gather strength and momentum.

This is why I sent the message, why Ken, Heidi and Justine jumped in. It was a very fertile seed you threw out. We want and need to see it grow. If there is anything we can do.

Let me know, everything I offered is here.

.

[Gary Rice]

Jim,

Thanks, as always, for your wise counsel.

I think I just saw a small sprout coming out of the ground where that seed was planted.

At least the seed is coming up in a beautiful garden, surrounded by many others of its kind.

Other seedlings are sheltering it from the winds and rain with their leaves.

Still others are growing taller and stronger around it.

All coming from the same soil.

As individuals, we all have limitations. The trials of life can take time away from favorite projects. The best intentions can be sidetracked by devils in the details.

But together, many hands do indeed, make light work. When one falters, another presses on.

We have many social services that perform exemplary work in this community. It's the neighbor-helping-neighbor network that seems to be lacking. If perhaps, we had a database of willing folks to help the distressed informally with whatever comes along, perhaps there would be a greater sense of community among those who otherwise would fall by the wayside.

The cries of Lakewood's distressed have reached our ears all too often lately.

How, or whether we answer them will truly mark the pulse of our city.