Enlarge John Wood moderates at the March 1 Get Real 2011 small group session at Myers Park UMC.
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Posted: March 3rd, 2011 Lee Howard

PHOTOS BY JASON MICZEK

A few Myers Park-area residents met at their church March 1 to learn a few lessons about taking the time to care.

“There are areas in Charlotte where people are hurting,” said Evelyn Hodges, one of four people who participated in a small group meeting of Charlotte Crossroads’ Get Real 2011 initiative. “Our leadership in Charlotte does not understand all of the people.”

The group met for about two hours at Myers Park United Methodist Church and discussed issues as wide-ranging as poverty, racism, homelessness and the tanking economy. Volunteer moderator John Wood showed two of the Crossroads Charlotte movies: first, "Fortress Charlotte," depicting how an insensitive community pulls itself apart, especially when it turns its back on people in need; the second, "Class Act," depicting a brighter tomorrow, with people celebrating their differences in culture, language and heritage.

The idea was to show that people of different ethnicities and socio-economic status can raise the standard of living for everyone through cooperation. Crime drops. Test scores improve. Neighborhoods thrive.

The presentation included some instruction on how local government works, how to contact specific government agencies and what their functions are. Wood walked the participants through a description of local government funding, detailing which entities receive money from which governing body.

Toward the end of the discussion, participants filled out a workbook designed to help them clarify their own community priorities and values. They rated what’s most important and least important in their lives. Is it affordable housing? The arts? Transportation? Or education?

They were also asked what sacrifices they would be willing to make to help improve their community and to write down what they would say if they had a “magic microphone” that enabled them to speak to all their elected officials at once.

At the end of the session, Wood said he felt the Get Real 2011 message was heard, even if by a relative few. More significant, he said, was that the people had a chance to be heard.

“Every voice is important, regardless of how large or small the group that is gathered,” Wood said. “The message is getting out there.”

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