Just realized this note only went to Shelley and thought it might be helpful for others. M From: Marilyn Crocker [mailto:marilyncrocker@juno.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 7:13 PM To: 'Shelley Hahn' Subject: RE: [Oe List ...] Photos from Uptown in 1970s Shelley, Thank you so much for sharing this "find." It is a treasure to any of us with roots, branches or twigs in Uptown. In 1972 when we (OE) made "the turn" and many of our Order moved to Kemper, we perhaps wondered why the insurance giant would ever give up such a wonderful facility. These photos tell us some of the reasons, far beyond the tax write-off. The neighborhood had changed. But at that time we cast thankful eyes upon the immense bounty and ultimate possibility we envisioned. And I think that was good. Having spent time at Kemper in the early 70s at priors' meetings and summer assemblies, and then having lived there in the later '70s and early 80's, I now realize how "insulated" I was - despite the fact that I was a permeator who walked daily to and from the Wilson El stop and shopped at local stores for family necessities. JWM had taught us all well that "when you are in Uptown (or 5th city) you walk with "street smart." That meant not meandering, but behaving as if you were utterly clear and " in charge" of everything, and always travelling at minimum by twos. I remember only too well the day Lyn Mathews was mugged, right in from of our building - purse snatched away; I remember the Friday afternoon I drove home from my permeation job in Oak Brook and took a short cut threw Cabrini Green (how stupid). Stopped at a red light - my brief case on the seat beside me - and was a victim of "smash and grab." And it was David Rebstock's car he had loaned me, and in my brief case was an airline ticket for my Monday morning trip to Buffalo, NY. Street smart became even more clear to me. Soon after Joe and I returned from teaching the first HDTS in Maliwada, our sons (at Stuart school, grade 2) made friends with "Caesar," the owner of Autumn Leaves grocery, down Sheridan toward Wilson, opposite the Burger King. It seems one day they stopped in after school and longingly looked at the candy counter. After introductions and conversation, Caesar Ramirez (and his family) became their mentor and strong advocate for them to work hard in school. At the end of each term they would first stop at Autumn Leaves to show Caesar their report cards and if his standards were met (usually quite high) he would let each of them select a pint of ice cream to take home. Then they would report to Joe and me. Thereafter I think several other of our Order children learned about Caesar and benefitted from his encouragement to work hard and earn ice cream. Another Uptown "saint" in my book was Rita Simo, founder the People's Music School. Like Caesar, she went out of her way to encourage the nascent gifts of our "EG" - training them in vocal and instrumental music which, in the case of our sons, (and others like Joan Avery,) made all the difference in their young and later adult lives. This is not, in any way to diminish the reality of impoverishment, marginalization, degradation and sub human living conditions of men, women and children that sadly co-existed with our (the OE) far more abundance during the 70s. Rather it is to stand in radical gratitude that our own children (at least some of them) were protected by community people beyond their parents and the OE, who LOVED them. And it is to acknowledge deep shame (mine in particular) that somehow, so many of us - so busy with permeation assignments in the Loop; or methods and spirit construct creation within the safe confines of Kemper; or organizing and implementing our reaching out across the globe (all worthy aspects of our understanding of "mission") - didn't have eyes to see or ears to hear the innocent suffering at our doorstep. As I think about my relatively brief time living in Uptown, I remember Jack Ballard as a sensitive and responsive voice on behalf of the community of Uptown at a time when he immersed himself in serving the local geography and came to know and love its people. I'm sorry we didn't "listen" more closely to his wisdom. Also, I realize now the other totally untapped resource of knowledge about the Uptown community was our own youth - like you, Shelly. I am so sorry we didn't even acknowledge the utter "street savvy" and wisdom you had to have gleaned in order to "survive" in school, work, college. I just wanted to share this in appreciation for you and all of the other folks in Uptown in the '70s I had missed out on knowing, appreciating and thanking. Grace, peace and love, Marilyn Crocker From: oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Shelley Hahn Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 9:39 AM To: Order Ecumenical Community Subject: [Oe List ...] Photos from Uptown in 1970s I thought some of you might be interested in a new book of photos from Chicago's Uptown neighborhood in the the 1970s. Take a look at this story about it: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2013/11/20/taking-look-uptown-40-years-ago It was eerie looking at these photos. It reminds me of some photo essays I've seen of poor neighborhoods in the 30s and 40s. Looking at those older photos I always think, "Wow! So people were really living like that!" Then I look at this essay and think, "Wow! I was living smack dab in the middle of all that!" A very strange feeling. This also reminds me of how I felt moving into the Kemper building when I returned from England in the summer of 1972. Everyone told me how dangerous the neighborhood was. All I could think was that it was nowhere near as dangerous as Fifth City. I was cautious in Uptown but I didn't live in constant fear, as I had as a child in Fifth City. I just ordered the last hard copy of the book from Amazon, but they say there are more on the way. I wish everyone a joyful and meaningful holiday season! Fondly, Shelley