Ms.McGrew (fourth person from right with blue sweats) is a lady of struggle and triumph all wrapped in one. My inspiration.
On our second day (and for the rest of our week) in the new state, a community organizer and proud grandmother of four shown bright through the darkness of poverty and stagnation that blanketed Mississippi. Her name was Ms.McGrew. A former executive director of a non-profit who taught herself to read, She started a community center as a means to create a resource for the youth of Jonestown – an area in Mississippi (like most areas of Mississippi) in need of that and many other resources.
She told us many stories about the oppression and the optimism in Jonestown, about the Casinos sucking up money, sucking in lives and how about many residents put a stop sign between themselves and caring. The first dynamic about her that struck me to the core was her sense of peace, calm and humbleness despite her stubborn ambition and perseverance. She attributed her “blessings” to faith in God. Me, being a person that is not deeply religious, I really admire her commitment to faith through the means of helping others.
They key of living is “giving,” she said. Without giving, compromise, cooperation and self-sacrifice there will be no future. No life. Residents of Mississippi have no learned to give, she said. Hence, the reason for some of the dilemmas there. But, that is just not the issue for Mississippi. That is an issue that our entire nation has not even BEGAN to conquer. After all, 14 individuals flew thousands of miles to a state as an “alternative” break, Meaning, taking the time to give back is not a typical thing for many. Just some food for thought.
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