Greg Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries says, “We know that systems change when people change, and people change when they are cherished.” And we intend to do just that.
It is no accident that we’ve been able to be a leader in this paradigm shift. South Louisville is an epicenter of this work — where the pebble hits the water before the ripples. As the most diverse neighborhood in Louisville, we are a beautiful microcosm of the city and this city has been dubbed a microcosm of the nation. We have this tremendous opportunity to be the petri dish to explore a new era of social services.
And we’ve been learning lesson after lesson as nimble explorers in system change work. In these last four years, SLCM has been adjusting over and over again — we’ve adjusted technology, vocabulary, priorities, and so on. The miraculous team: our staff, volunteers, partners have embraced this ever-moving target knowing we’re headed toward a visionary alternative.
We adjust because we’re listening closely to our neighbors and other direct service providers and trust them when they tell us we’ve missed the mark. We’ve also compared notes with other cities and models as we’ve continued to ask the question: what can the future look like when funding is decreasing and needs are increasing? How can we create space for healing and flourishing and cherishing when everything feels like it’s getting harder?
Our answer? Proximity. Get closer. Know the people and listen to the overwhelming challenges and find joy in community as we try to solve them together.
Find peace in knowing there is no end to love. It does not run out. We have so much to work with. While there are plenty of bleak realities, there are as many possibilities as there are people.