I Am: Everything

Do citizens owe their community any responsibility? Undeniably, over the last 20 years, Rockford has changed.  Some unfavorable changes have occurred in the community, yet in response, some very good changes have taken root. The notion that a community is diverse and dynamic in every aspect such as class, religion, age, gender, language, and ethnicity is increasingly truer than ever.

It is at this time when coming together as a community will help to advance the future and influence greater opportunities in Rockford. What do we have to lose? Or most important, what do we have to gain?

The recent weeks have been an exciting time for the #IAmRockford movement. We’ve presented incredible stories of example setting community members going above and beyond. Informative stories such as Barb Chidley seeking to understand challenges of public transportation, to inspirational stories about Carandus Brown, an RHA employee, overcoming adversity and now giving back to his community.

Former-resident Shauna Cain shared her story of educational empowerment and how by leveraging every opportunity offered to you in housing is the key to success. In A Pocketful of Faith, current-resident Yolanda Nelson reminds us that when life seems to stack odds against you, having faith or something to believe in can be more than enough to keep you going.

Finally, in Community Perception RHA CEO Ron Clewer and Senior Pastor Matthew Johnson of Unitarian Universalist Church discuss how these inaccurate perceptions come to be and what it means if a community begins to draw lines between each other.

#IAmRockford is a story about our community, your community and it always will be. There are community members, unknown to many, rising above and beyond their regular lives and these stories need to be heard. Small vocal groups can only speak so much, it is our intention to turn the conversation over to you now, the silent majority. What makes your #IAmRockford? Send us an email at info@rockfordha.org to share your story.

By submitting your I Am Rockford story, it will become the property of RHA and may be used for future related marketing opportunities. RHA reserves the right to share any or all stories. By submitting you agree to these terms.