Purpose in the Midst of Overwhelming Challenge

 

“There are times that it seems like little or no progress is being made. This, however, is my purpose, my calling you might say and I would probably be doing this even if I weren’t paid to do it”.

Listening to someone express their work in terms of a purpose or calling is rare.  It is something expressed by people with challenging occupations such as medical professionals, missionaries, and people like Gwen Grant that I met with today. 

Gwen is the CEO and President of the Urban League of Kansas City. The mission of the Urban League of Kansas City is “to enable African Americans and other disadvantaged persons to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.”  The website for the ULKC https://www.ulkc.org/our-mission states that they:

·         Ensure that our youth are well-educated and equipped for economic self-reliance.

·         Help adults attain economic self-sufficiency through jobs, entrepreneurship,
and wealth creation.

·         Assist in ensuring access to quality affordable healthcare for all.

·         Secure civil rights by removing barriers to equal participation in the economic and
social mainstream.

·         Advocate and educate on social justice and reform.

The ULKC has some excellent research and data resources that profile the Black and Hispanic population of Kansas City. This material can be found at https://www.ulkc.org/2019-black-kc 

An additional 2013 interview with Gwen by KCTV can be found at: https://www.kctv5.com/news/urban-leagues-gwen-grant-blazes-new-civic-trail/article_d63b36cd-5be4-535d-9db8-3e78634c98a4.html

The full interview with Gwen can be found on StoryCorps https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/a-conversation-with-gwen-grant-ceo-of-the-urban-league-of-kansas-city/