TGR: COIL's Stacy Smith Will Lead ... and Loves Her SW Baltimore Community
(BALTIMORE - June 26, 2009) - You gotta love Stacy Smith, the Executive Director of Communities Organized to Improve Life, Inc. (COIL), an umbrella group in Southwest Baltimore.
While I’m sure I’ve seen her somewhere before – a board meeting, City Hall, school – last night was the first time I got a chance to see her in action. And boy, isn't she so on-point. Her passion is evident, her due diligence is too, and she is adamant about serving the people ... particularly those at the bottom.
Asked to help moderate a community forum there last night that featured the community and elected officials, primarily from the 44th state legislative district – the forum gave me a golden opportunity to learn about the positive things happening in the community around Baltimore and Carrollton. I am so grateful to have been allowed to witness the symphony occurring right before my face between the elected officials, COIL, and the community.
Who do we have who can speak on behalf of our communities in Maryland in such a powerful way?
Honestly, it was a thing of beauty.
If I may regress, on February 11th last year when now-President Barack Obama visited our Arena in downtown – some 13,000 people attended. I asked myself that day: Where is “our” Barack Obama?
Who do we have who can speak on behalf of our communities in Maryland in such a powerful way?
Since then, I think a President Obama administration should mean something extra-special for black people – but not in the form of a hand-out. Meaning, our businesses must be up to par, our children must be doing their homework, and we, adults, must be better engaged in the communities in which we live, including the community/rec center, City Hall, the temple, and the schools.
Anyway, Stacy Smith really impressed me last night. She is not a victim, but a victor. She is a fearless freedom fighter for the forsaken, the left-outs and drop-outs, the losers, even, according to some. To others of us, they are our children, our brother, our sister – trying to find their way home.
Last night, Stacy Smith made the case for COIL, insisting that she followed protocol in her search for funds so as to be able to continue to serve seniors and students.
To make a long story short, the City, the State, and COIL need to have a meeting – probably both behind closed doors and also in the open – so as to find a solution, including the money needed to continue to serve the people of Southwest Baltimore.
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