Jordan McClements of Dover is a painter and writer, whose art depicts the overdose/unsheltered crisis. His works are on display at the Dover Art League and at Studio B Milford.
Where do we go in the meantime, when there is no Hope Center in Sussex County or Kent County?
What are we doing about the full beds right now?
How can we extend beds to everyone now?
With a new Hope Center, we can create a team that reaches out to the Americans who are on the medians, with the promise of a place of hope, where they can change their lives and choose life here in Delaware.
And we can get the proper services and infrastructure and help and love, then bring the family back into the equation of that American’s life, with Hope Centers in Kent County and Sussex County.
We can create the route of love throughout Delaware that is currently missing. It’s missing just like we are missing beds for Americans who need help.
Americans who need love.
Americans who are searching for love.
And we can help Americans who are begging for money because that’s the only change that they have ever seen in their lives.
They have not seen us change.
We are the same America.
We drive by these Americans every day.
We don’t reach out to our representatives to help them.
We don’t reach out ourselves.
We don’t get out of our cars and help these people.
We don’t give them our time because we’re scared.
We’re scared, and we think that gives us the right to let our family members die. We’re scared, and we’re afraid to say that we’re scared.
Well, it’s OK to be scared, America.
Cus D’Amato said the difference between a hero and a coward is that the hero does it anyway.
I’m not gonna be homeless.
The overdose crisis is spiritual warfare, America.
What do I mean by that?
Whether you have faith or not, the overdose crisis is a constant here in Delaware.
Whether you have faith or not, there is no Hope Center here in the lower two-thirds of Delaware.
We need hope here, whether you have faith or not.
Now is the time for Delaware State University to continue to “Make Our Mark on the World.” Let me tell you what that old DelState motto means to me. I first heard it back in orientation more than a decade ago, when I was just Jordan. I graduated from DSU and came back to teach. I’m proud to have come back to my city and to fight for the voiceless because of what I was taught — the power to make my mark on the world.
DSU needs to be the innovator in addiction research here in Delaware.
Why?
Its president, Tony Allen, is a closer.
I believe in Tony Allen.
Unlike you politicians, I’m asking Dr. Tony Allen, as a two-time alumnus, to secure the deal.
We need research and innovation coming from where real thought is being produced.
We need historically Black colleges and universities, specifically the changemakers that Delaware State creates.
We know, as native people and Black and Brown people, that the overdose crisis is a hush-hush topic in our communities. But guess what: It got me, and I graduated summa cum laude.
Dr. Allen, we need Delaware State University to help the community, and I need you, as a leader, to stand up because these politicians are cowards.
Secure the deal.
Bring this home for our kids.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
