Can’t Change the World ‘Less We Change Ourselves

Land of the Free (Terms & Conditions Apply)

“Can’t change the world ‘less we change ourselves / Die from the sicknesses if we don’t seek the health”. That’s rapper Joey Bad@$$ in the year 2017. In Land of the Free—a song ironically titled, given its subject matter—Mr. Bad@$$ lays out his experience as a Black man in America. Don’t worry this isn’t a 2021 discourse and I’m not Robin DiAngelo–although we both have great hair.

And while the Black experience is unique, many people—regardless of background—are feeling powerless right now. While I’ve been chilling in my bomb shelter since January 20th, I heard some wild sh*t was going on. Look, economic instability, political division, and shifting societal expectations are real concerns. Folks are feeling unsure of their place in the American context.

Look, Sebastian Stan’s return to the White House has been chaotic. I don’t need to spell it out. I get it—you’re here for dry wit and fun facts. And hey at least we don’t live in North Korea or Turkmenistan (yeah, that’s a weird place!) Bad argument?

Turkmenistan: Where sitting presidents build gold statues of themselves.

Finger Pointing Exercises

Alright. Look, there’s plenty to be upset about right now. Your feelings are valid, and there’s a lot to point the finger at. But let’s pull back from the rabbit hole.

Let’s go back to: “Can’t change the world ‘less we change ourselves”. That’s the heart of community development. When people see vacant land, crime, and blight, they often point to the government—or whoever their finger finds first.

Is that actually helpful? We know it’s not. And plenty of communities have stopped pointing fingers and waiting for Spider-Man to swoop in and save them. Community leaders are stepping up!

The Real Avengers

People are tired of feeling unhealthy. “Die from the sicknesses if we don’t embrace the health”. Let’s highlight the work of a community leader and personal hero of mine, Arica Gonzalez—a Baltimore-based visionary and founder of The Urban Oasis.

In West Baltimore’s Panway community, things were teetering on the edge. Among other issues, vacant land sat untended across the neighborhood. Arica recently described it as an external reflection of the community’s internal reality—people weren’t connecting, and the bonds between them weren’t where they ought to be.

Turning Vision into Action

She refused to accept that. The vacant land didn’t reflect her internal reality, and it shouldn’t reflect the community’s either. With help from friends and family, she connected with like-minded neighbors who felt the same. From there, the community began a transformational journey.

Ten years in, the external reality has changed drastically. Why? Because it now reflects the community’s shifting internal reality, as Arica’s vision—and her family’s—gained momentum. So here’s to Arica and the Gonzalez family. But she’s not alone—stories like this unfold every day. You’ll find them throughout the struggling cities of the American Rust Belt. And you can be that person too.

*The Urban Oasis Alley.* Photo by Patrick C. Filbert, 2024.

*The Urban Oasis Garden.* Photo by Patrick C. Filbert, 2024.

Embrace the Health

Something in your community not sitting right? Well change starts with you! Pointing fingers won’t fix it—real change happens when people step up. I was talking with community leader John Kwamya recently and we had an exchange that stuck with me. Something in your community not sitting right? Well change starts with you! Pointing fingers won’t fix it—real change happens when people step up. I was talking with community leader John Kwamya recently, and he mentioned how people often ask him, “When will this project be finished?”

I laughed and told him, “There is no final resolution.”

“No, just consistent effort,” he replied.

That’s how you build community. So let’s put in the effort. It’s up to us to embrace the health.

Postindustrial Futures