The Fourth of July was 11 days ago. The official name, of course, is Independence Day. Did you re-read the Declaration of Independence? Did you meditate on the meaning for your life on “verses” like:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights … deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

I confess I did not until I started writing this column, but I did think about three organizations in our area that are trying to play out the meaning of independence in concrete ways:

Progress Center for Independent Living

Their website (my italics) states: “Progress Center is a community-based, nonprofit, non-residential service and advocacy organization, proudly operated for people with disabilities, by people with disabilities.

Independent Living … is a way of life … embraces a philosophy that the person, regardless of their disability, has the potential to exercise individual self-determination … is having the freedom to fail … means that we demand the same choices and control in our everyday lives that nondisabled neighbors take for granted. We need to be in charge of our lives, think and speak for ourselves.

The Progress Center’s contact info: 7521 Madison St., Forest Park; 708-209-1500.

L’Arche

L’Arche is an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as equals.

The term “L’Arche” is French for “The Ark.” It symbolizes a safe space of belonging and inclusion. The organization was created as an alternative to the institutionalization of people with disabilities. It strives to change society by showing that every person’s unique gifts are valuable.

Core members (people with disabilities) and assistants (caregivers) share a daily life of meals, chores, and recreation. Members advocate for disability rights, inclusive social entrepreneurship, and adequate pay for direct support professionals.

L’Arche serves the area with its office, located at 7507 Madison St. in Forest Park (phone 708-660-1600). The local branch operates three integrated homes in the Chicago area where community members with and without disabilities share a household with their assistants.

PTMAN

From the PTMAN website: PTMAN stands for the Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network. It is a local group of faith leaders and community partners in the Forest Park and Proviso Township area. This organization unites clergy across different religions to work on community issues.

PTMAN connects churches with schools, local government, and community programs. The group aims to solve big community problems by working as a united team. 

Comments of Bishop Reginald Saffo, PhD:

Bishop Saffo is the chairman of PTMAN and a conservative in the traditional sense of the word. I’m quoting him at length because I think he sheds some light on the meaning of independence:

My basic premise is that we as a community should minimize our dependence on government in our lives and the economy of our communities. We have to regain the ability to be more self-sufficient, especially in economic development and community transformation, youth development activities and employment opportunities.

In my opinion, our dependence on government handouts and our consistent complaints about the lack of government intervention in resolving many of our community issues, has diminished our capacity to innovate and solve our problems.

We go as far as we can and if it requires government support to get us across the bridge, then I can see the use of government support. But the heavy lifting should be done by us! We can become partners in resolving some of the many community issues.

At the end of a recent PTMAN meeting Bishop Saffo gave a mini-sermon in which he kept repeating, “You do it.” If you are worried the youth having nothing to do during the summer, don’t wait for someone else to organize a youth soccer program. You do it.

If you are wanting to transform the business district by attracting new businesses to town, don’t wait for someone else to take the first step. You do it.

Around the turn of the century, Art Jones, Jerry Vainisi and Carl Schwebel saw that the Madison Street business district was in sad shape. They did something. They formed Mainstreet Redevelopment, an organization which sparked the transformation we enjoy today.

If the rust on the bridge bothers you, step up and organize a paint-the-bridge day.

Mad at President Trump? Organize a No Kings rally on Roosevelt Road.

Independence for this country meant that we stumbled sometimes as we were learning to walk. One of the hard lessons of becoming an adult is that along with independence goes responsibility and accountability … or at least it should.

Perhaps we should all print out the words “You do it” and tape them to our refrigerators.

Follow Pastor Walter Mitty’s spiritual adventures on Tom’s substack — https://tomholmes10.substack.com.