Toward the end of last week, half of America reacted in panic to the news of the purported Air Bomb Plot emanating from London. Officials in London and on this side of the Pond scrambled frantically to react retroactively and ham-handedly (again!!) to the latest scare.
In the midst of all this consternation, however, one individual calmly put forth a simple idea with lots of benefits.
Follow me to the jump to find out more...
Alton Washington is Deputy City Manager of what has been recognized more than once by Bertelsmann as the Best-Run City in the World. As such, he directly oversees a number of critical City departments, such as Police, Fire, and Sky Harbor International Airport, one of the busiest in the world.
You no doubt saw, as we all did, the images of TSA and airport workers gathering big tubs of hair gel, lotion, cologne, perfume, and other bottled liquids--THE NEW NO-NOs of the War on Terra. Maybe you wondered a moment how they would dispose of all this nouveau contraband.
Alton (he's a friend) not only saw it, he had a great idea. He immediately instructed that these items be collected for transferral to area Domestic Violence and Homeless Shelters, thus providing an instant boost not only for the self-esteem, but also the job prospects of these folks on the lowest rung.
When I read about this in yesterday's Arizona Republic, I smiled, because I instantly knew the inspiration for this simple but brilliant idea.
Years ago, I first met Alton in the cramped living room of one Vernell Coleman, one of the most remarkable people I've ever known. Dirt poor and living in the Projects, Vernell was confined to a wheelchair w/acute arthritis and diabetes. But I never heard her complain, unless u tried to water down her Scotch. Instead, she literally transformed Housing Projects throughout the City by the Tenant Strike engineered w/Rev. Amos Dudley to call attention to the squalid conditions and unfair treatment.
She started the Juneteenth Celebration here in Phoenix, which, under her leadership, became the annual focal point of African-American cultural pride in this city and a major source of scholarship help for kids in need.
She fed thousands of people, made sure kids had what they needed to go back to school, saw to it that grandparents had gifts for their grandchildren at Xmas time, and regularly reminded the mighty and the powerful of their obligation to help those w/less fortune than they.
But perhaps her greatest contribution of all came down to her profound understanding of one of the most basic of all human needs--food. Now, Mizz 'C' could cook--Pan-fried Catfish, Seafood Gumbo, Greens, Cornbread, Peach Cobbler--all from her wheelchair!! But she knew that people needed the fixins.
She stayed in the ear of a wonderful, loving man named John Van Hengel, who started something called St. Mary's Food Bank. The concept was simple--just match the incredible waste occurring at Restaurants and Groceries across the Valley w/the incredible need for good, nutritious food.
Well-run and well-managed, and with a lot of help, The Food Bank not only prospered, it grew. As others recognized the innate wisdom of the concept, other communities were hungry to replicate its success. Second Harvest, a network to share information about this idea, was formed around the most basic of slogans: "Waste Not, Want Not." It has since spread from its humble beginnings in the Projects in Phoenix to become a Worldwide Federation, providing sustenance to millions through thousands of affiliates both here and in many countries around the World.
As so many others, including Mayors, Governors, Councilpeople and Legislators among them had done, Alton and I both learned a lifetime of lessons from this wonderful lady, all powered by her immense love and compassion.
Vernell saw every bit of useable waste as a way to help somebody. Thus it was that this bright but practical City leader saw these tubs and saw an opportunity.
Instead of overflowing dumpsters and landfills, we now have all sorts of useful amenities flowing directly to those who have the greatest need for them and can put them to the most immediate use.
Thanx, Vernell.....