Read

Watch

Lifting Up Black Stories: 3 Neighbors Transforming their Communities

Creator:
Published:
January 12, 2024
June 4, 2020
Watch how these three black neighbors are transforming communities.|Watch how these three black neighbors are transforming communities.

We take storytelling seriously at Grotto because we’ve staked our work on the notion that stories can change lives. So the kinds of stories that we tell matters.

And stories don’t have to be about social activism in order to effect a change. The most important change for each one of us is found in the ways that stories shape our hearts. With that criteria in mind, there really are no stories too big or too small to make a difference.

Here are three stories of black community members who are transforming their communities in both grand and small ways.

Charles Jenkins

Charles “Bike Man” Jenkins has been repairing and building bikes for people in his community for more than 50 years. The impact he has had on countless lives on the West Side neighborhood of South Bend, Indiana, can hardly be measured.

“Because the kids love it, and I love to make the kids happy, and I just continue to do it,” Charles says. “I guess it’s the love of my life.”

Abdi Abajabal

Abdi is a refugee from Ethiopia who opened a juice bar in Harlem, NYC. He changed his diet for health reasons and opened his juice bar to help others eat healthier, too.

"I started with the help of a lot of people, including coming to this country,” Abdi says. “So even for me, it is my purpose to live. I want to improve the community lifestyle, so that’s why I start a nutrition class here."

Kim Webber

Kim Webber uses the power of storytelling to capture people’s attention and get them to open their eyes to the injustices tied to the crisis of homelessness in Oakland, CA.

"Slowly, over time, I recognized the undeniable power of storytelling,” Kim says, “and how incredible it is a tool to get people to pay attention to the injustices happening in the world."

These people might not be the first that our society would look to as leaders, but they are leading nonetheless — and going about it in a way that makes a concrete difference to the people in their neighborhood. These leaders know that it’s okay to start small and in your own backyard — often, that’s the only place where you can have an impact.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
January 12, 2024
June 4, 2020
On a related note...
Children's Author Teaches Kids How to Draw

Children's Author Teaches Kids How to Draw

Grotto

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Old Town

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Old Town

Jennon Bell Hoffmann

How to Adapt Your Party for the Social Distance Era

How to Adapt Your Party for the Social Distance Era

Brandy Norton

Revealing the Crisis of Homelessness in Oakland

Revealing the Crisis of Homelessness in Oakland

Grotto

You Can Help the Homeless by Giving Your Time — and a Listening Ear

You Can Help the Homeless by Giving Your Time — and a Listening Ear

Mary Grace Mangano

How Having “Soul Sessions” With My Friends Transformed My Faith

How Having “Soul Sessions” With My Friends Transformed My Faith

Alexandra Bendixen

A reflective narrative by Alexandra Bendixen.

'Black Lives Matter' Affirms the Dignity of Human Life

'Black Lives Matter' Affirms the Dignity of Human Life

Grotto Shares

7 Tips for Moving to a New City

7 Tips for Moving to a New City

Mike Jordan Laskey

Lifting Up Black Stories: 3 Neighbors Transforming their Communities

Lifting Up Black Stories: 3 Neighbors Transforming their Communities

Grotto

7 Group Activities to Do Over Zoom

7 Group Activities to Do Over Zoom

Claire Krakowiak

5 Ways to Feel at Home in Your New City

5 Ways to Feel at Home in Your New City

Joe Kuhns

This Café is Preserving and Celebrating Native Culture

This Café is Preserving and Celebrating Native Culture

Grotto

The Bergamot Band Sings Message of Hope

The Bergamot Band Sings Message of Hope

Grotto

Lifting up Black Stories: 3 Artists Fighting Racism

Lifting up Black Stories: 3 Artists Fighting Racism

Grotto

What I Learned from a Year in Service after College

What I Learned from a Year in Service after College

Caelin Miltko

Healing from Pregnancy Loss as a Community

Healing from Pregnancy Loss as a Community

Grotto

Toni Morrison’s Beautiful Vision

Toni Morrison’s Beautiful Vision

Renée Roden

How to Be a Hospitable Steward of the Earth

How to Be a Hospitable Steward of the Earth

Patrick Cruitt

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Ben Wilson

Why We Should Foster Intergenerational Friendships

Why We Should Foster Intergenerational Friendships

Robert Christian

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.