My vision is to have an event that provides a space for business people of Corporate America to interact with those who experience homelessness in America. Those who are highly intellectual could widen their eyes even more to the realities that other people face. Similarly, those who are on the less fortunate side who might have once had a functioning life could regain hope to fuel their aspirations. Local businesses, for instance, barbershops, beauty boutiques, CVS, or Wal-Mart could donate their services and supplies to build confidence in those who are less fortunate. Meanwhile, business people of Corporate America would “dress down” and transform their ties and shiny shoes to polo shirts and sneakers. At this social event, real conversations would occur between real people. Topics would include matters that cover what relates us as human beings outside of the American Dollar and the global market stream. For example, a CEO of a major business could connect to a homeless parent, and they could share how they both love their children in similar ways.

 

To give some back ground to my idea and how I formulated this vision, in the beginning of this summer, a friend of mine at Bryn Mawr, Allegra Fletcher participated in a program called “Gate Way” through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (Christian groups consisting of many different backgrounds and religion interests through Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore). This program called for participants to give up their luxury in exchange for an experience they would never forget. They forfeited their cell phones, money for a token to and from Philadelphia. They had to survive the streets of Philly for one day. From what I can recall, it was the hottest day ever, reaching heights to nearly 105 degrees. Thirsty and hungry, there would be times where she asked for food, or a drink from a local store or people passing her by. One man working at Starbucks paid for her drink, which I thought was really nice. Some acted as if she were completely invisible. It was her idea, after her experience, to continue planting the seed in others.

 

You can learn a great deal from speaking to the homeless. Allegra inspired her Bible study group to do the same. I will not lie. Throughout my life, I have spoken to every one who would like to converse with me, from the Bryn Mawr professors and partners at Goodwin, to the crazies that you find at gas stations during late hours while you fill your car, or in subways. As conversational as I am, as much as a people person I am, my life is full of surprises, some good, some bad, but I never asked for the bad, and this seemed as if I were asking for the bad. Friends and I hopped on the R100 into Philly leaving our luxuries behind at Bryn Mawr. I carried ten dollars with me because I knew that I would be hungry. It was all gone by the time we got there and back. We walked around Love Park, and it seemed as though the people were either asleep, or just simply “out of it”. We found a man who identified himself as “China Man” and sat with him and his friends. He poured out his life stories to us telling us how his life was once up and functioning, how his wife died, and it was painful to bury her, and how he had beautiful children who developed beautiful families of their own.

 

All in all, my summer story is purely one of enlightenment through the shared perspectives of other people. Corporate Social Responsibility is nice for companies to maintain their name brands, not only as a business entity, but, a business entity that cares about people. However, while showing you care is good, I am not referring to merely signing checks to show their altruism. I am talking about interpersonal growth on both sides of America: the corporate side and the “not so much” Corporate Side. I do not believe interpersonal growth necessarily comes from a dollar, but it most certainly comes from the ability to listen and carry on a conversation with those who come from various walks of life different from your own.