Harbari Gani? (What’s the News?) Response: Ujima (oo-JEE-mah)! Collective Work & Responsibility. “To build and maintain our community together and to make our Brother’s and sister’s problems, our problems and to solve them together.”
How can we be one, when divided? Our brother’s and our sister’s problems are really ours. We don’t need to wait for trouble to enter into our space before we recognize we are either a part of those troubles or a part of a solution to focus on removing them.
Trying to ignore that guy on the ramp isn’t going to make him go away. Many of us have various causes we care about. Attempting to go at it alone is not the wisest choice. Join with others with similar interests or inspire others to see how they can contribute to giving back by standing for a cause. Work together to eliminate the ills of our families, communities, culture, religions and our world. Merely complaining about those ills only adds to the existing negativity. Stand up do something, it is not someone else’s problem. Another to serve is making conscious efforts to support small businesses as they compete with huge organizations that usually drain our resources and not return much to our communities.
Some people applying Ujima on as a regular part of their lives are Dana Green, David and Dorna Werdelin, and Naeemah Charles. One of Dana’s collective works and responsibility comes through her nonprofit, Hungry Hearts. Both her and her husband Michael and their supporters go to various spots in the Atlanta Metro area, about 1-2x each month to serve those who are homeless or hungry. Dana Green founded Hungry Hearts ATL to provide community outreach services aimed at uplifting Atlanta’s inner city low-income residents and their neighborhoods. Dana believes to uplift the life of one person will ultimately uplift the community. (http://www.hungryheartsatl.org/)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581434688815961/
David Werdelin, a Combat created Fit-U, a Cross-fit right in his own backyard. He, along with his wife Dorna created Fit U to focus on personal wellness from the inside out! You will learn how to create healthy meal options and get fit using aquatic and/or bootcamp like exercises. Trust me, it’s no joke!
http://www.uwcollective.org/
Dorna, along with some other Dynamic Wonder Women, have started the Universal Womanhood Collective, Inc. The Universal Womanhood Collective, Inc., is a non-profit organization focused on providing an educational ministry that fosters a holistic approach to total well-being through cultural experiences, professional development, and personal wellness, to a diverse community of women across the globe. Their first international event is on St. Croix, Virgin Islands from September 21-25, 2017.
Naeemah Charles is a work horse in the Caribbean community here in Atlanta, GA. On top of her full time job as a Nurse at Grady Hospital, she coordinates a women’s group, Sisters Loving and Supporting Sisters, where she organizes various personal empowerment activities for members who are located across the country and beyond. She also coordinators a cultural dance group, Virgin Islands Heritage Dancers of Atlanta, where young and younger come together to enjoy the celebration of keeping alive one of their cultural traditions. (https://www.facebook.com/atlheritage.dancer?fref=ts).
Our lives are more fulfilled serving others. We are our brother’s and sister’s keepers. We are a diversity of one. HARAMBEE!!!