We, the fortunate

Have work to do

Photo by Vinay Darekar on Unsplash

I recently reconnected with an old acquaintance, who tracked me down through a social networking site. We chatted and caught up on many years of disconnectedness, and at one point he confessed surprise at what I am now doing professionally.

“You were a capitalist, last I knew,” he said, intimating that one’s belief in an an imperfect economic system somehow precludes serving others, which was exactly my response. “I don’t think there is a better use of my energy or talent than helping others who have less to succeed,” I added.

I readily acknowledge that I have lived a privileged life. My parents had very little when we were young, but there were always doors open or to be opened, and opportunities to explore. There was no systemic oppression that I had to overcome.

I have also lived a life surrounded by love, with a large extended family and caring friends, encouraging and supporting me through good times and bad. There were plenty of difficulties: personal conflict, untimely deaths, injury and illness, financial struggles and the like. But I never felt ostracized for struggling, or for having less, or dehumanized for being different.

I have been extremely fortunate (I won’t say lucky because luck is the residue of design) to have been able to make the most of opportunities that presented themselves. I had caring teachers and later wonderful mentors who recognized my talents and helped shape and polish them and opened my eyes to possibilities. They were true servant leaders, and I don’t forget that. I try to pay it forward.

I have direct experience that others are not as fortunate as I have been. My eyes are open, as is my heart. I have dedicated the last number of years to community service, and will continue that until I retire.

Service is an act of love. And it is not a passive endeavor. Habitat for Humanity is one of the most respected service organizations existing today, and its impact extends far beyond the public’s image of volunteers building homes for the poor in distressed neighborhoods. I am proud to be part of it. Building and repairing homes for Habitat, with families who will directly benefit and volunteers who are dedicating a portion of their lives towards this effort, is humbling. And immensely gratifying. We are working at something larger than our finite selves.

But we must do more. Our financial year ended in June and our operation did well. We raised a generous amount from donors and expanded our homeowner service program to include home maintenance and financial education, through partnerships with other community organizations. Our ReStore saw record donations and sales.

But we, like other Habitats operating in high cost areas, are falling behind in our ability to address the growing need for more affordable homes. Affordable housing has transcended from “merely” a social/class issue into a full blown community/economic crisis. One local housing expert has said we are experiencing “housing armageddon.” If working class families (the people who serve our coffee, draw our blood, maintain our streets, staff our offices, etc.) cannot find or afford housing in our communities, they will seek out other places where they can work and raise their children. This will result in a vicious cycle of falling populations, economic distress and a host of other social ills. We are seeing this unfold in real time across the country, and acutely in the Hudson Valley.

We must be activists in the literal sense of the word. We must advocate for those who cannot take action on their own. We must walk the halls of money and power and demand action. Not for ourselves, but for the voiceless and powerless.

“The non-profit institution neither supplies goods or services [like a business] nor controls [like gov’t]. Its ‘product’ is neither a pair of shoes nor an effective regulation. Its product is a changed human being.. The non-profit institutions are human change agents.” - Peter Drucker

As human change agents, we must act up, speak out, and mobilize others. We must serve those who need…and stand with others who serve. We all profit from the work and success of non-profits.