Whenever a community acts
and develops a certain way of knowing about itself and others, it is, by the
same token, instituting itself as such, inviting a future for what it does and
indeed, actualizing the power it holds to shape a way of life. (Jovchelovitch
2008, p. 29).
Emerging Themes from Qualitative
Data (November/December 2012)
In general, we have found that the store is a gathering space in which there is
authentic, two-way dialogue and where people feel valued for who they are, as
they are. Everyone is valued, no matter their circumstances. The community is
only as strong as its weakest member, and it counts how that weakest member is
treated. Food corps workers take extra care for individuals in need.
Belonging has
emerged as an important value. People who come to the store feel acknowledged
for who they are in a non-judgmental way (“I see you and you are important”)
Becoming relates
to the sense of change going on in the store and, subsequently, in the
community (from transactional to transformational). The store is contributing
to building a safe, secure zone, but it is important to note that this sense
of security is balanced out by realistic
expectations. That is to say, a sense of accountability and personal
responsibility is an inherent part of the emerging community. Everyone involved
in the project has high, supportive expectations of the potential of the
community’s capacity for coming to know and understand what needs to be done.
The store is a restorative space that is helping the community get itself back
in order (because perceptions from insiders and outsiders suggest that it may
be out of order now). The store is consistent in all its dealings with the
community and in the ways that consequences are meted out for contradicting the
values that are becoming important, or failures to be responsible to the
developing, shared expectations.
Sense of family
entails seeing the store as a homeplace[1] in
which people feel at home, and where they feel comfort. They feel protected and
safe, and as such, they can be vulnerable. The store is a social space of
respect and caring and where solutions to personal, local, or political
problems can be discussed and valued.
Communicating
includes seeing the store as a hub, a resource and a gathering space. Customers seem to see the store as a place to
get information, particularly information about what’s going on in the
neighborhood and a place where they can bring forth questions and issues to be resolved,
or to get initial counsel for. Communicating is authentic, dialogic, and
synergistic.
Building
relationships is embedded in varying roles emerging in the store (elders,
men and women, counselors, security, greeter). Greeting each person with solid
eye contact builds trust through communication that allows for saving face. In
this way, relationships are developed through what people say and what they
do—it is embodied and communicated both directly and indirectly.
Building community
is connected to building relationships and to family in the sense of the store
being a place of becoming and changing (transformational). People feel a strong
sense of belonging and safety.
Building community
values entails communing together (e.g. harambee, sharing meals) where
there are intimate exchanges of thoughts and sharing of common interests.
Intimacy is built through recognition of having gone through similar
circumstances. Education is highly valued across all participants.
IN-STORE SURVEY
In addition to field observations and interviews, data was
sought through the completion of online surveys in the store. Completing the
surveys became a shared literacy experience, as over 130 store customers (many
of whom found the computer format somewhat daunting at first) shared their
responses to the items listed below.
Survey findings
(n=135[2]):
• Frequency of Store Visits: The majority of respondents
(37%) come to the store more than three times per day. 16% come to the store at
least twice a day while 13% come once per day. The remainder come on a weekly
basis. Most respondents (45%) live right on the block while another 27% live
within 2 blocks and 14% live between 2 and 8 blocks away. 8% of respondents
don’t live in the neighborhood, but shop at the store regularly.
• Reasons for Purchasing Sweets: The majority of respondents
(49%) buy sweets because they are convenient and taste good. 30% buy sweets as
a reward for having a good day and feeling successful. Only 7% said they bought
sweets because they were stressed, sad or depressed. 15% said they didn’t buy
sweets at all.
• Reasons for purchasing beer: 62% of respondents do not buy
beer. Field notes that show that it is
the same people who buy beer rather than it being a lot of different people.
Of those who do buy beer, 20% buy it because they are going to hang out with
friends, while 9% say they buy beer as part of their everyday routine. Only 2%
buy beer when they are under stress or having a bad day. 8% just want to be
alone and enjoy a cold drink.
• Opinions about Smoking: A majority of respondents (40%)
are aware smoking is a deadly habit and do not smoke. 32% of smokers know it is
bad for them, would like to quit but have not gotten around to it yet. 4.5%
think that people make too big of a deal about smoking and 4.5% need cigarettes
to feel like themselves.
• Reasons for Coming to the Store: Most respondents (50%)
come to the store to get things they need for their home, while 30% drop in
when they need something quickly. 19% come to the store because they like to
visit with the people there, 21% come to get advice and support stating that
it’s not just about groceries and snacks. 13% like that they can bring kids to
the store because they know it’s a safe and friendly place.
• Handling Problems at Home: When asked what they do when
they are having a problem at home, 55% of respondents said they talk with
people they trust while 45% keep it to themselves. 2.3% sometimes make
themselves feel better with alcohol or junk food and another 2.3% take their
anger out in ways they regret.
• Improving the Future: We asked what respondents think
would make the world today better and 69% stated that people should take more
interest in each other and show care and concern for others. 28% thought people
should take care of themselves and their problems responsibly while 19% thought
people should mind their own business. 4% thought people should fight back no
matter the risks.
• Meeting the Needs of Children: When asked what children
need most, 76% said that they need love and support, 48% said responsible role
models who make a good honest living, 41% mentioned food, shelter, and safety,
44% a stable family/home life and 42% stated that education was a way to a
better future.
References:
hooks, bell
(1994). Homeplace: A site of resistance. In D.S. Madison (Ed), The woman that I am: The literature and
culture of contemporary women of color (pp.448-454). New Yorlk: St Martins.
Jovchelovitch, S. (2008). Reflections of the diversity of knowledge: Power and dialogue in
representational fields. Meaning in
Action Pt 1, 23-36.
[1] bell hooks (1994) and other scholars of color, identify
homeplace as safe, organically established places where people from non
dominant communities can grow, develop, and nurture spirits, hence establishing
communities of resistance (p. 449), free from the expectations of a dominant or
oppressive culture.
[2] Respondents often checked more than one box under
each question.
