By Danna Downing
PART I
The good nuns at St. John’s Elementary in Jackson did a good job of sensitizing me to the needs of others in the universe. I have lifelong habits; I still perform one whenever I can. I keep a $20 bill in my wallet, in case I need it to help a stranger or a friend in need. On Friday, January 12, just before the latest winter storm and freezing weather hit, I noticed a young man with a placard near the exit at my local shopping center. It was a big busy parking lot, and I found a safe place to pull over. It was broad daylight. I sized up the situation and decided I was safe to stop and help.
I asked to hear the man’s story. He was from out of town, coming back from trying to help a relative in Jackson. He needed a place to sleep for the night since it would be too cold and dangerous to sleep in his car again. He wondered if I knew of a local warming center. I was unsure, but I was able to check with a trusted emergency service expert, Drew Johnson, the director at South County Community Services. Drew gave me the information we needed, and I was able to pass it on to Corey. Sadly, Corey was quite familiar with how emergency services worked because he has been living in his car for quite some time. That was reassuring to me because Corey had clearly demonstrated his survival skills and would be able to manage things after he moved on from me. He asked for my phone number, but I was honest with him and told him that for my own safety, I did not give out my number. He understood and thanked me for the information. As he turned to go, I asked him to wait a minute, I had something for his journey. I gave him that $20 bill and asked him if I could give him a big hug. He agreed and we hugged each other big time; it was a gift for both of us. That 20 minutes with Corey gave us both hope and courage to believe in others.
However, I was left with a lingering question. What else could I do for people who need assistance? I have needed to pull back on some of my advocacy work for seniors, due to changes in my life. But in that moment, I decided I needed to review what more I can still do, here close to home in Vicksburg. I ordered a new book I heard about from NPR called “Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy”, and I began reading another book just offered to me by a retired local educator, Pat Wilson O’Leary. That book is entitled “The Power Of The Social Brain”, a book she edited with Arthur L. Costa. They both have served as educational leaders in cooperative education, a technique that many educators in our area have used in their classrooms. This strategy encourages learners of all ages to focus on interdependent thinking and learning, a powerful learning tool for social interventions that can change lives and create social innovations that can bring about positive political will as well.
Sounds good. I better get busy.
Doing Good Part II is slated for the March issue of South County News.
