Does East Sacramento have a problem???

Excerpt from an old executive summary: “East Sacramento is undeniably an affluent neighborhood and as such carries with it a greater social responsibility to help others. East Sac Give Back will demonstrate that we take this responsibility very seriously. Sometimes affluent communities are perceived by others (rightly or wrongly) as insular, self-centered, and disconnected from other communities that are struggling. One of East Sac Give Back’s goals is to serve as a bridge to outside communities and creatively network with others in order to help those within and outside of our community 'boundaries.'"

Even before the McKinley Park fire and the identification of East Sac Give Back as a community nonprofit, the idea of a new nonprofit in East Sacramento, particularly one blatantly pushing the concept of social responsibility, was receiving a bit of push back from the community.

Mostly, at the country clubs.

Then, there was the push backs that pretty much could be summed up with the logic of  “Don’t we already have enough nonprofits?”

I especially liked that one.

Can you imagine someone saying something like, “Don’t we already have enough businesses?” That would be so funny. Oh, by the way, a nonprofit is a business.

I’d just love to see a political candidate get up in public and say, “We have too many non-profits. That’s the problem. Read my lips: ‘No new nonprofits!'" I probably shouldn’t laugh too hard, though, given how wonderfully our government and Wall Street are performing. Quite possibly someone might actually run on the “no more nonprofits” ticket ... and win. Oh well.

Apparently, enough people actually were interested to remain in contact with East Sac Give Back and begin to connect, to even transcend boundaries. And no, not just on Facebook. Shameless link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eastsacgiveback.

But, still I wonder, how many people are actually getting it?

How many out there in this community we call East Sacramento see a problem with our community? Are we insular? Clique-ish? Disconnected? Maybe even contributing to social barriers and problems ... causing real harm.

I think so. I’m pretty convinced. I could go into everything from PTA dynamics to how East Sac Give Back was initially received (and to some degree still is) by its own “Inside” paper — ironic name, ain’t it — to just watching those City Council meetings. Folks, we got a problem. I guess that is one reason why in our ESGB bylaws it is written that the corporation will:

"Strive to transcend traditional neighborhood 'boundaries' and engage with other communities for the purpose of humbly acknowledging East Sacramento’s strengths as well as its shortcomings. By doing so East Sac Give Back hopes to encourage other communities to join forces with us to improve upon their own strengths and lessen their shortcomings.

"Acknowledge that insular communities can have valuable strengths, but that they can also lead to problematic tendencies such as inhibiting perspective, social awareness, inclusion, mutual respect, creativity, and the overall enrichment of society.

"Create and strengthen relationships with key individuals and organizational entities to promote East Sac Give Back’s approach to community strengthening. These may include but are not limited to neighborhood associations, business organizations, arts and cultural organizations, health and human service organizations, schools, libraries, and parks and recreational organizations."

But, in the sprit of true transparency, I want to put it out there to both those “inside East Sacramento” and all those others out there looking in.

Does East Sacramento have a problem?

And does East Sac Give Back actually have a reason to be?

Happy Travels Weary Fiends,

Michael

- only a few days till this freakin election is OVER! 

Oh, go Giants!