When Justice Visited the Neighborhood

Photo Credit: Kate Pollard

The Justice Project: Fifth Ward, Houston

The Justice Project is an opportunity for team members to respond to the injustices identified while being present in the neighborhood. Projects could be anything from creating educational awareness or meeting a tangible need in the neighborhood. Teams have worked tirelessly to build organic gardens for organizations as an educational tool for children, built benches for those waiting at bus stops, and invited neighbors to create art and beautify neighborhoods. At the heart of the project is an invitation to seek justice with neighbors. Recognizing that we’re only in the neighborhood short-term, I believe the “with” part is vital and possible as a result of our commitment to build relationships. 

Resource Splash Day

The Resource Splash Day was birthed out of the desire to make available resources into the hands of our neighbors who may not already know what is available to them. By highlighting the opportunities available through service organizations in the neighborhood, we hoped to either inform or update neighbors with free resources for their families.

What started as a resource book, flourished into a partnership with the Fifth Ward CRC (a Mission Year service site) to have a resource fair and a summer kick-off celebration at our neighborhood park. We met every Tuesday night for several hours to delegate tasks, ask each other questions, and make decisions as a team. After several hours and days of making phone calls, requesting organizations to be present at the fair, asking for donations, passing out flyers door to door, we had our event on June 6^th.

Lessons Learned

We started the day by setting up tables and chairs for the service organizations. Fighting the wind, we covered the tables with plastic covers and taped them. As we ran around quickly covering the tables, we found that we had to keep going back because the tape wouldn’t stay. In that moment, I recognized not everything would happen the way we planned, and the day’s success is reflected by the hard work that was put into our project. These past two years, I’ve been invited to see the beauty in the mess. At the end of the day we sat around the kitchen table reflecting and I recognized the beauty of the day.

Our dear neighbor and friend, Celeste, was with us from the moment we set up to the moment we headed home. And she did it with much joy.

Fifth Ward CRC agreed to buy a snow cone party package from Agape Development (where I’ve had the opportunity to work this year) to pass out to neighbors as they come. For Agape Development, this means an opportunity to encourage entrepreneurial skills to the youth from their neighborhood.

Remember when I worked at Change Happens last year? During our team meeting Tarrin expressed the hope to have a mobile HIV testing unit present at our event. I knew that Change Happens had one, so I was able to call those I knew there for them to be present as well.

Over 200 people showed up to the Resource Splash Day and about 12 service organizations. Families played in the water, had their faces painted (by Taylor, Cassie (Kira’s friend), and I), had free snow cones and cookies, climbed into a fire truck and celebrated community.

What if Justice Moved In?

It’s important for me to emphasize that I’ve seen beauty here even in the midst of the injustices I may witness throughout. Something that stands out to me about this day is our intentional approach to love and shine light on opportunities for our neighbors. As I looked around the park, I saw justice visit the neighborhood that day.

But what if justice moved into the neighborhood?

I’m sitting with this question, searching for a simple answer. If justice means building relationships and seeking community, then I believe that justice would maybe look like ordinary people like me moving into neighborhoods where people are economically, racially, socially, etc. disadvantaged in order to build relationships, walk alongside them, and seek new opportunities that meet their basic needs.

What does it mean pursue justice with others in your community?

Photo Credit: Kira Echeandia