The SHNA focuses on neighborhood beautification, youth development, neighborhood safety and community building.
Bridges Out of Poverty coordinator Vern Reed came to Iowa to be a basketball coach, and although his career has changed significantly since then, one thing remains the same— his belief in teamwork.
Reed gave the keynote presentation at the 6th annual South Hill Neighborhood Association appreciation banquet Saturday evening at the Burlington Gym to a crowd of about 50 people who showed the same belief in unity.
The SHNA focuses on neighborhood beautification, youth development, neighborhood safety and community building. Attendees shared a meal and reviewed their accomplishments in 2017.
SHNA member Carol Bartles said accomplishments included receiving a $1,000 grant for the South Hill demonstration garden, an annual Easter egg hunt, six free swim days, two weeks of free swimming lessons for 65 children, an annual block party and an annual Fourth of July celebration.
Bartles said the organization aims to continue all those events in 2018.
Next, Reed took the microphone to discuss the role Bridges Out of Poverty plays in the South Hill Neighborhood and Burlington and West Burlington communities.
The initiative offers help to at-risk youth and a night class for adults called “Getting Ahead.” A group of recent graduates from the class shared positive experiences, saying they gained the tools and resources to improve their housing and job situations.
Reed said the Bridges initiative challenged his perception and pushed him to get to know people before passing judgement on them, particularly those living in a cycle of generational poverty.
“Bridges really woke me up to the fact that I tended to look at life sometimes through my perception because of my life, and I placed judgement on people,” Reed said. “I’m not proud of that, but I have to be honest about that, because Bridges has made me more aware than ever that I have no right to think that I can fix anybody.”
To visually demonstrate his point that people are more alike than they are different, Reed conducted an exercise where he asked those in the room to stand up if his statements applied to them.
First, he simply told those who like cherry pie better than pumpkin pie to stand up, but the statements took on a more serious tone about whether you have known someone who died of cancer or have ever let your family down.
The unity in the room soon became apparent.
“If we’re all given equal opportunity to the right resources, and we learn some of the hidden rules of different situations, we’re placed on equal footing and we all get a chance to build a sustainable life,” Reed said.
Finally, SHNA Vice President Margaret Selmon and SHNA board member Nikki Pearson awarded plaques to some of the most helpful volunteers and contributors to the SHNA vision.