My Block My Hood My City founder Jahmal Cole on why he started M3

Summary

The video script narrates a poignant tale of Chatham, a historically affluent African-American neighborhood in Chicago, now grappling with economic decline and crime. The speaker, an activist, shares his experiences and observations, highlighting the community's struggles with gun violence, poverty, and lack of resources. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement, personal responsibility, and the need for change from within. Through his initiatives, he aims to inspire hope and action, encouraging residents to take ownership of their blocks and work towards a better future for Chatham.

Takeaways

• 🔊 The script highlights the experience of ordering food at KFC through a bulletproof glass window, symbolizing the challenges faced by communities in areas like Chatham.
• 🏛️ It discusses the historical significance of Chatham as a once affluent African-American neighborhood with a strong sense of community and home ownership.
• 📉 The speaker laments the current state of Chatham, with a significant decrease in property values and an aging population, leading to a loss of community vibrancy.
• 🚔 The narrative touches on the pervasive sense of crime and the need for constant vigilance, which weighs heavily on the residents' minds.
• 🏡 The speaker aspires to revitalize the community by turning his home into a community center and buying up foreclosed homes to improve the neighborhood.
• 🏃‍♂️ The concept of 'block fit' is introduced, where the speaker encourages running through one's neighborhood to fall in love with it and become an activist.
• 🔍 The script points out the stark contrast between the resources allocated to monitoring technology and those provided to educational institutions in the area.
• 🚦 It describes the harsh realities of living in a neighborhood with high crime rates, including the presence of bulletproof glass in local businesses and the constant threat of violence.
• 👮‍♂️ The speaker emphasizes the need for community involvement and the importance of knowing one's neighbors as a foundation for a safer and healthier community.
• 🌟 The script concludes with a call to action, urging individuals to take responsibility for their neighborhoods and to contribute positively to their communities.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by the residents of Chatham when ordering food?

Residents of Chatham have to order food through bulletproof glass windows and often have to yell their orders, which is indicative of the neighborhood's struggle with crime and safety.

How does the speaker describe the students' initial reaction to his presence at Cook County Jail?

The students at Cook County Jail initially did not want to hear the speaker, showing a lack of interest in engaging with him.

What realization did the speaker have about the students' sense of ownership and identity?

The speaker realized that the students identified with their blocks or hoods but not with their city, indicating a disconnection from a broader sense of community and belonging.

What is the speaker's strategy to prevent students from going to jail?

The speaker aims to show students that a world exists beyond their immediate surroundings, hoping that by exposing them to different experiences and opportunities, they will be motivated to avoid the path to jail.

How does the speaker characterize the historical Chatham neighborhood?

The speaker describes Chatham as a neighborhood with a strong sense of African-American home ownership, entrepreneurship, and community organizations, which was once affluent and known for its well-maintained homes.

What is the current state of Chatham according to the speaker?

Chatham is now characterized by a decrease in property value, an aging population as younger residents leave, and an increase in crime, which affects the quality of life for its residents.

What is the speaker's vision for his block in Chatham?

The speaker envisions turning his home into a community center and buying the foreclosed home nearby, with the hope of attracting more families and improving the neighborhood.

Why does the speaker run three miles a day in his neighborhood?

Running helps the speaker stay mentally tough, observe the neighborhood's conditions, and identify areas that need improvement, which is part of his activism and community engagement.

How does the speaker use social media to promote a positive image of his neighborhood?

The speaker posts photos of his running route and the neighborhood's positive aspects on Instagram, using hashtags to encourage others to 'fall in love with their neighborhood' and be 'block fit.'

What is the speaker's perspective on gun violence in Chicago?

The speaker views gun violence as a reflection of racial and economic injustice, poor neighborhoods, under-resourced schools, high incarceration rates, and high unemployment rates, rather than an isolated issue.

What actions does the speaker's organization take to support the community?

The speaker's organization provides support to seniors, delivers resources during emergencies, helps small businesses affected by looting, and organizes educational field trips for teenagers to expose them to different experiences.

What is the speaker's philosophy on creating change in the community?

The speaker believes in taking personal responsibility for improving one's block and community, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's neighbors and being proactive in community development rather than waiting for top-down solutions.