HiPolicy On The Campaign Trail

We would like to hear your thoughts.

It seems like picking up discarded wrappers, cans, newspapers and grocery bags is somebody else’s job. But who is “somebody else?”  “Nobody” is “somebody else.”

If we all chip in to clean up our neighborhoods then we can make a difference.  We’re not talking about the once-a-year-neighborhood clean-up drive with the local politicians and camera crews.  We’re talking about keeping your circle of operations clean – everyday.

There’s nothing hard about this.  Let’s face it, we all know about the boarded-up houses, the broken windows, soda cans lining the street and paper floating through the air like a flock of birds.  Is it a sign of neglect or is it an opportunity to begin to make a difference?

Not taking any action to clean your own environment can have a psychological, emotional, economic and physical affect on you, your family and the people on your block.  Not true you say – here’s the facts.

1. Psychological/ Emotional: “The Broken Window Effect” that’s how psychologists describe a run-down neighborhood with boarded up homes, broken windows and poorly kept yards. The Broken Window phenomenon creates a psychological effect on the nearby residents that instills them with an indifferent attitude towards taking care of their property.  They assume that if no one else cares about neighborhood conditions, then why should they care. This creates a cycle of unhealthy and poor living conditions which turns into a breeding ground for crime.

2. Economical: Allowing trash to pile up in your streets not only pollutes the environment, but it also lowers property values. That’s money out of your pocket. Don’t own your home?  Just renting?  Well, consider this – that excess trash will eventually have to be cleaned up by the city, which could result in an increase in taxes so it’s still just money out of your pocket.

3. Physical: Non-biodegradable materials are hazardous to your health.  Case-in-point: If you allow the trash in your neighborhood to pile up, it kills the vegetation in your neighborhood, and without plants, your physical health is affected. Plants such as trees, flowers, shrubs and grass provide rich oxygen for us to breathe.  Without it, the risk for asthma, allergies, sleep apnea and other illnesses are increased.  That combined with economical, psychological and emotional affects listed above can lead to mental health issues like depression, drug abuse and alcoholism.

So the next time you see a piece of trash in your yard, just pick it up.  That’s the right thing to do.  You don’t have to organize a trash cleaning team and carry a trash-bag in your pocket everywhere you go, but you can look out for your own plot of land.  Your neighbors will feel encouraged to do the same thing.  Before you know it, your block will look a little brighter and at the end of the day, the planet will thank you.  Remember what the anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Let’s get busy.

Think About It

Unless you have been living in isolation for the past five years, then you are probably aware of our fascination with social networking sites like myspace, Facebook, Blackplanet and many others. These sites have changed the way people communicate with each other. They are basically personal web pages that allow other people in cyberspace to learn about who you are. These sites have also become modern day business cards in which internet junkies sign on to share pictures, video and other personal information that you might not even share with the person standing next to you at the bus stop. So is this the new wave of communication? HIPOLICY Magazine will explore the world of social networking and how it has had a profound effect on young people today. These websites have become vehicles to reach millions of people and to spread mass amounts of information worldwide in seconds. So many people have become addicted to these sites and they view them not only from their computers, but now even on their cell phones. Some would call this wave an addiction to fame. Others would call it clever marketing. Some would call it ridiculous. Stay tuned as we dive into the madness of The Great Social Network.

Unknown Name: Student, Spelman College

Ever wondered what it would be like to attend a Historically Black College/ University (HBCU)? There are so many, which one should I choose? Which one has the best programs? Which one has the most history? Which one is the most affordable? There are so many unanswered questions about our nation’s predominantly black institutions of education. Here is your chance to have all of these questions answered and more as you hear about it from the mouths of current students from all of the HBCU’s across the country. HIPOLICY Magazine wants to encourage all of our readers to attend an institute of higher education. It is our goal to shed the light on these institutions that gave African Americans a chance to expand on their education and become productive members of society. We want to tell the story of students who are living that dream and share with the world the history, culture and excitement that lies on the campuses of all HBCU’s. Stay tuned.

HIPOLICY Magazine caught up with Eric Roberson while on tour in Columbus, Ohio