Looking to keep the ideas and dreams that Rev. Lewis Flowers and my mother and so many before me had, while also engaging in new ways to better my City. helping My father taught me so much. I hope to bring back some of his programs and projects while adding some of my own. I would love to build a New and stronger Networking system. I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t doing some form of community service or work. My first experience as a community activist was back in the 1990s (when I was younger) when the city of Chicago and Oak Park were at “war” over Columbus Park in the Austin community. Oak Park wanted the park mainly because of the golf course and it was rightfully in the city of Chicago, jurisdiction, so they (Oak Park) wanted to redistrict the area to include the park. Of course, it meant some of Austin would now be Oak Park. The community did not want to lose their park and so my father Rev. Dr. Lewis Flowers, others, and I were out asking for signatures to help us keep Columbus Park. Long story short Austin kept its park, but at that moment I knew this is what I am supposed to do.I remember as my father was teaching me different ways of raising money he would say “It takes money to make money”. As he was able to get a well-known hotel to let him put over 50 rooms hold and 10 meeting rooms for an idea of a “retreat of the minds”. He also wanted the hotel to feed his group of over 200 coming for this event, he didn’t know if many or any would show up. But what he knew was if he wanted to be heard he needed them to be front and center and able to listen without worrying if they would be going home in traffic or what their kids would eat for dinner when they left his meeting. So, another long story short, not only did they help him, but they let him put more rooms on hold and the hotel sponsored the dinners for the whole weekend. Another story where I was surprised was that one voice made that happen and yes, his event was so successful that he had to have another "retreat" and the hotel and he had a long-time partnership. I started out as a note-taker at meetings, and that led me to be the executive assistant for the CEO, for the organization my father ran. I also was over the youth, education, and workforce development committees within that organization. I understand that this work takes patience and commitment. I am committed to networking and getting out and talking to others, which will continue to level me up in what’s going on in my city. I am here for the long haul; I am a lifelong “super fan” of community organizing and my City.
