PRAISE FOR THE WORK OF MIDTOWN
“A book about MIDTOWN…well, it will be the virtual bible of how to serve people. It was and honor and a privilege to serve. Leaving MIDTOWN, there was not question about my greatness because as Martin put it…we all can be great because we all can serve. And serve we did! We served the poorest of the poor with dignity and grace.”
Ricky Jackson, former staff member
“It’s the people first. All lives matter. When the world looks at you like you don’t count…at MIDTOWN everyone was treated with dignity and value. This is the foundation of MIDTOWN….that we love and respect one another.”
Quincy Jones, neighbor-leader of MIDTOWN Men’s Club
“MIDTOWN is a place full of care, hope and love. MIDTOWN opened the door for me to understand social work in practice. As time goes on you get more and more of a sense of “mini-collectivism”. …everybody is welcomed. The door is open, the programs are open, the staff respect and cooperate with each other, and clients are respected and get involved in all kinds of activities.”
Tao Qi, an international social work student
“I have always appreciated MIDTOWN as a classic example of professional social work. All the methods of social work are operating there every day—social casework, social group work, community organizing, social action and the elements of the old Settlement House movement. There are no more dedicated people in any of our Catholic Charities agencies than you and the MIDTOWN staff. You are making a valuable contribution to the neighborhood and community-at- large.”
A former President of Catholic Charities of St. Louis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart.
Dorothy Day
To be human is to be radically incomplete in oneself
and to place this vulnerability out for all to see as your true self.
Unknown
I would like to thank the thousands of people who came through the doors of MIDTOWN during the 26 years I was director. Every day someone would come in for help, to visit, to see what was going on or to let us know about the problems of a neighbor. In our open office, I would greet almost everyone who came. To those people who “graced” our door-- thank you for everything you taught me about people. Because of your patience, perseverance, friendliness and generosity, I worked in a wonderful place where I interacted with people of many different backgrounds and experiences.
From the neighbors, staff, volunteers, students and supporters I learned how people are just about the same, no matter their experience. I learned everyone wanted to care for their family and friends, be safe, free from the struggle to meet their needs and able to meet new people without fear of judgment. So many people over the years returned to let me know how they were doing. They were just stopping by--a friendly visit—but with stories of great pride and strength.
I got so many “man hugs” I lost count. Whether from young men who grew up at MIDTOWN or older men who were like brothers; men from the community wanted to express their gratitude, not necessarily for something I had done, but for being there. Women came in nearly every day to interact with staff, check on their children’s progress in groups or see each other. I had the opportunity to be there for them as well. (I did get hugs from the women who came, too.)
I want to thank all of our guests for the hugs, laughter, stories and memories. They were the reason MIDTOWN existed. My dreams of a community center where everyone respected and treated each other with dignity came alive through them. People proved no matter black or white, comfortable or struggling, man or woman, adult or child we could get to know each other, and find love together.
I want to remember the staff and the time, effort, skill and dedication they had. Staff was with people for the happy times-- celebrating new jobs, births, weddings and college for their children. They were also there for the sad--helping people through addiction, violence, trauma, loss of work and prejudice. At times, we had the best group of people working together to serve the community I will ever know. Staff was the backbone of the agency. They were flexible, open and understanding. They learned how best to serve our neighbors, advocate with institutions on their behalf and help people find the power within themselves (empowerment) to get the job done.
The following staff members, particularly “caught” the idea of what we were trying to make happen. They understood the vision, helped reach for the goals and ensured our mission. They also were very dedicated as they worked for meager pay, and stayed from three to ten years. Thanks to Deborah, Nancy, Adam, Junior, Rebecca, Sam, Quincy, LaWayna, Ricky, Chuck, Bill, Emily, Dan, Michelle and to some special people, Jeanne, Sylvia, Jack, Papa, Jackie and Kenny.
I want to express my gratitude and love to Joyce, my wife, with whom I worked for 35 years. She was the heart of Midtown. All the ideas for services and programs were vetted by Joyce and she wholeheartedly worked to help make each one a success. She was loved by the children and by connection their parents. Joyce set a perfect example of how to treat and love other people. Her patience helped people with overwhelming need slow down and take a breath. This virtue made the children and teens look at her as their second mom. Joyce supported staff in every program, taught students the social group work method, and made the group of neighborhood women, the MIDTOWN Mamas the best imaginable. I also want to thank her for contributing to this story.
I want to thank Jessica, my daughter. She grew up at MIDTOWN. She began her “attendance” in a bassinette in the office, when she was 3 months old. As a toddler, she hung out in the hallway with her adult friend during teen club. She got to meet the teenagers as they left the building. She attended after-school and teen club programs from 5 to 18 year of age and was a teen leader. She came back summers to work in day camp as a college student.
Jessica experienced two worlds as she grew. The first was a white, middle class experience of private elementary and high schools where she had every opportunity to learn and grow. She was never hungry, alone, or without her needs met. She was always safe and cared for by her two parents. She experienced a different world at MIDTOWN.
She was one of the only white children coming to after-school programs. In the beginning she was not sure how she fit (she was also “Joyce’s” daughter). Not all the other children were accepting of her, played with her or became her friend. She did not like this reception, sometimes complained a little, but found her struggle to be nothing to what her peers faced. Over time, Jessica made friends with many people and has stayed in touch over the years. Jessica shared her memories for this book. They come with a slightly different perspective as she grew up with many of the people we served, and stays in touch through social media.
As a teenager she began to see the differences in their lives, and hers. By the time she was finishing high school, she was an exceptional leader in both worlds. When she came from college to work in summer day camp, the younger children loved her almost as much as her mom. Because she viewed the disparity of her experiences to be unjust, she became a teacher and is now school leader (principal) at a charter school in the city of St. Louis. She has plans to become involved in education policy or politics in her future. She strongly believes all children should have the same opportunities she had.
Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer, and if possible be at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:12
FOREWORD
A gathering of people who work and pray with laughter
to reach for stars that seem too distant to be touched,
or too dim to be worth the effort.
We try to be friends with persons in need,
And to celebrate life with people who believe that the struggle to follow Jesus
In building a world more justly loving is worth the gift of their lives.
Anonymous
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