the three e's

economy, ecology, and equality--madonna couldn't spin a hotter track. this mantra is stuck in my head like vogue. In school it always seemed to me that working on all three at the same time causes a brain melt down, a system failure. i would ask professors "How do we take action?!" like it was so hard to contribute, that what we need is genius innovative ideas to fix this crisis we are in. my perspective is changing.

this is mostly due to my job. somehow, ownership of homes needing substantial rehabilitation seems to hit all three. people come to this organization with very few assets, have access to translators and creative funding such as sweat equity, and start building wealth. these people are not creating new utopias on greenfields, they are rehabilitating old homes and improving old housing stock. they are investing in neighborhoods which can only be improved. finally, due to the unequal racial playing field and immigrant status of most of our clients, this is their first home and first opportunity to invest in something that will provide them with equity to raise the level of the playing field. renters become stakeholders! empowerment!

i am beginning to see how well people can improve their own situations when provided with the access they need.


as for my bike...tonight might be the night i upload the photos...