The unveiling of the River Lights. Bleachers on blocked-off city streets to watch a variety of performances. Individuals zip-lining across the Saint Joe River. Rows and rows of local restaurants selling any food imaginable. People of all different backgrounds and neighborhoods smiling, laughing, and enjoying the community.
This was the scene of SB150, a celebration of South Bend’s 150th Birthday during Memorial Day Weekend 2015–a weekend I remember and cherish. As someone born and raised in South Bend, this weekend felt like a period of collective effervescence, a time when the residents of South Bend felt more united, excited, and energetic than ever before. The so-called dying city now had a newly-formed culture of hope, energy, and possibility.
It is this culture of South Bend that allowed me to work for Bowman Creek Educational Ecosystem, an organization that worked on sustainable, community-driven projects in the Southeast Neighborhood of South Bend. This culture allowed me to participate in the South Bend Public Narrative Workshop sponsored by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. This culture persuaded me to participate in the South Bend Youth Task Force, working to reduce youth-on-youth violence in our community. This culture convinced me to stay near South Bend for my undergraduate education, studying at the University of Notre Dame.
This culture of South Bend brought me to enFocus, an organization that not only contributes to that South Bend culture but expands it to even higher levels.
As a Fellow at enFocus, I hope to help, in any little way that I can, to continue to build the culture of South Bend, strengthening the hope, energy, and possibility for all who live here and in our surrounding communities.