VT SHOOTING: One Week Later

Today marks exactly one week since the Virginia Tech shooting. There isn't much I can say about it that hasn't been said - the condolensces, the disbelief, trying to focus attention on healing rather than anger and allowing that anger to lash out at innocent communities (the Koreans).

What I will comment on it is my own reaction. I first heard of the shooting from the news blurb on my cell phone while riding the train to work. At that point they had only confirmed one dead (I think this was before the gunman made it to Norris Hall). I am ashamed to admit that, although saddened by the idea of anyone dying, I had a somewhat desensitized reaction to it. By the end of the day, however, when I read about the extent of the massacre - it began to sink in.

I have spent this past week absorbed by the media. I read the profiles of the victims, looked at their websites and myspace pages. I read about their families and hometowns. I searched sites like flickr for pictures. I wanted to connect to the people - make the victims more real in my head.

A part of me feels really sick for doing this. Am I falling victim to what our society/the media wants us to do?

I sat there with tears rolling down my face as I read through the lives lost. I wanted to be affected by it. Yet, I cannot begin to fathom what the people who actually know them are going through and when I'm done reading the article, I shut down my computer and go on with my life.

What are we to do in times like these?

Accomplishment!

A quick note to share the excitement here at Arc about winning the ASLA's annual award!


Read about our book and the prize here:
http://www.asla.org/awards/2007/07winners/550_ha.html

Ask a community how they want their land used and see how well it pans out.

Bayview Hunters Point

To clear up any confusion that may arise - the focus of this blog is moving across the bay to San Francisco's Bayview Hunter's Point neighborhood. I am still involved with Touchable Stories and will continue to update on Richmond occassionally but this blog is now going to feature my observations about my new home in BVHP.

I started working with Arc Ecology in January and have learned a great deal about myself, myself in relation to this community and environmental justice in general. Interestingly enough, Arc's focus is very much what I had in mind when I came up with my name, "City Eco." That is, the significance of city ecology lies not only in the ecology in an environmental sense but in the economics and social justice sense.

Most importantly, I will give this disclaimer: Although I am an employee of Arc, the views in this blog are my personal views and not those of the organization or our director. We don't always agree on every issue so don't take what you read here as a report on either Arc or Saul's opinions.

Hope you enjoy the adventure to come.

ROHO Video Marathon

This past saturday was the first of several all-night Video Marathons hosted by Touchable Stories. Several of us gathered at the Richmond Police Activities League center to watch the Richmond oral histories provided by the Regional Oral History Office (ROHO). The greatest outcome of this is that it is likely to lead to having copies available at the Richmond Public Library.

Let us know if you would like to join us for the next round!

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IMG_3026.JPG, originally uploaded by livesimply.

The plantscape is coming together. Shannon and I attended the Berkeley Botanical Garden Plant Sale this sunday and picked up a few interesting specimens. This one is the blue medusa - very funky plant. Click on it to see the others.

Adam and Eve

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Originally uploaded by livesimply.

Click on the image to see pictures from our recent trip to artist Patrick Amiot's home and art studio.

Trash art! Really makes you wonder why the heck landfills exist.

Fearless in the storm: The Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation

The Richmond Globe
Commentary by Shannon Flattery
Photos by Ellen Gailing

Saturday’s sold-out Second Annual Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation fundraiser at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club brought together over 300 people, and at $50 a seat, that’s some very good energy at work to bring peace to the streets of Richmond.

The Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation (TKYF) grew out of tragedy and great loss. De La Salle High School graduate Terrance Kelly was fatally shot while sitting in his car in the Iron Triangle on Aug. 12, 2004, two days before the teen was to leave for the University of Oregon on a full scholarship. Terrance’s father, Landrin Kelly, later started the foundation as a way to help guide Richmond youth in the positive way that he had guided his son. The programs developed by the group help Richmond’s youth see themselves differently and choose paths that will help them realize fulfilled and meaningful lives.

There is an African proverb that reminds us that, “If we fail to initiate our youth into the center of the tribe, they will burn down the village just to feel the heat.”

We have to admit that as a country, as a nation, as a city, we have failed our children. And we have to take responsibility. The TKYF has stepped up, and with the numbers in attendance at Saturday night’s event, it seems many want to share in that responsibility.

Special guest Ronnie Lott, a 49ers Hall of Famer, was full of the spirit that evening. At one point he asked everyone to hold hands and to understand that the spirit of holding onto to one another — and really seeing one another — will allow us to make it to the other side of this violent storm.