First Steps and Stumbles on the High Road

“When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom profit that loses.” -Angela Davis

I feel like I was thrust into a different world. It is exciting, but it is a lot to take in.  I met Cara, my supervisor, today. She is a shorter woman and was wearing a long blue dress with llamas on it. The first few minutes felt a bit choppy and forced as we made small talk. I think, in some situations, I still see myself as a kid, so I don’t expect adults to want to engage with me in a way that feels as if we are equals. When we finally got into the actual content of what this summer will look like for me, things began to flow. I was able to fall back into a comfortable position of asking questions and Cara settled into her element, explaining to me what the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo does. There was so much joy in being able to ask Cara everything and her knowing the answer. People that are wells of knowledge are so thrilling to interact with. It is clear that Lou Jean Fleron, who welcomed us this morning at orientation, is also like that. The founder of the High Road Fellowship, she talked with such effortless authority about the legacy and urgency of this program. She made an open invitation to all the fellows to join her on her porch to talk “politics or anything.” I think I will take her up on this. 

I enjoy the overall feeling of Buffalo. It is not like LA. It isn’t a slow city, it is just a different energy. There is a warmth in the air that goes beyond the physical temperature. The sun is also very orange…but that is because of the forest fires. Everyone I have interacted with seems very genuine and passionate. It is invigorating to be surrounded by such passion and optimism for a better world.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”  -Angela Davis

My first full day at my placement started off rocky. I left my phone in the Lyft I took to work. Lyft doesn’t have an easily accessible customer service line so I was panicking for a bit. I woke my mom up at 5:20 AM PT and we worked to get my phone back. In moments like these I am ever aware that I am not quite a fully functioning adult; I am still learning! I am also grateful that I have someone in my life that I can ask for help. We got a hold of the driver. He had just ended his shift and was at home, nonetheless, he found my phone and drove it back to me. He was so jovial and had a huge smile as he handed it back. There was no indication that I had completely inconvenienced him with my carelessness. The City of Good Neighbors…right?

Once I actually began work things were looking up. I was tasked with reading the Erie County Climate Change Plan and writing questions to pose to those who created it because we would be meeting them on Thursday. 

I wanted to join the High Road Fellowship to feel that the work I did was actually meaningful. I hear of other fellows that are on the ground, getting their hands dirty, that is not the work that is being assigned to me. I don’t think what I’m doing is less important, it is just more abstracted from the actual physical issue. Though I have just met my supervisor, I feel she truly trusts that I will do something special and important this summer. When she introduced me to the other office members she said “This is Lila, our High Road fellow, her job is to solve climate change by July 27th.” While a funny and absurd assertion, it feels good that there is time and possibility for me to make a serious difference. I’m sure these next two months will be formative.