2004-01-14
I really don't like waiting around to find out what's going on. I feel like this decision is out of my hands and I just have to wait until someone decides to tell me what's up.
The situation:
Sometime this year, they are going to tear down the building I work in to make the new urban buildings where the apartments are above and there is shopping below. Our new computer center will be there.
The problem:
I have no idea when they are going to do this, what's going to happen to those of us that work there in the meantime (if they're even going to keep us), or how long it will take them to build.
The rumors:
Luckily we have a boss that is fairly open about talking about these things. Unfortunately, he knows as little as we do which makes me a little bit concerned as to our future there. We've heard that the center will possibly be moved to Turner Courts in the meantime. Turner Courts is another project neighborhood, but I've heard that it is MUCH worse than the one I work in now. The people that live in Roseland Homes (where I am now) won't even go to Turner Courts. There is a turf war between the projects. I've heard bad, bad things about the gangs over there. Roseland Homes are the uptown projects. It is literally in uptown surrounded by condos and nice homes. Turner Courts is in the middle of a depressed area.
My boss is guessing that we will be put into the Boys and Girls Club there in a little room that will hold maybe ten computers. Currently we have about 30 computers now and two rooms: one classroom and one open lab. I can't imagine how we're going to continue classes and have time for the children's after school program and the adults that come in using the computers to look for jobs and work on their resumes. I also can't see how we'll have three people working there. Honestly, I don't know what's going to happen.
In guessing, if just one person has to go, I'm thinking it would be me. I'm fine with that because if it is someone else, that would leave white girl alone in the center in the old projects where no one knows me. I've done that and believe me, it isn't good.
But there's also the chance that we'll be phased out altogether except for our boss running the center. I have no idea. The current guess is that none of us will make it to the new building that will be going up. It's supposedly going to be more of a cyber cafe with computers and a coffee shop aimed at young professionals. There will be no program for children and no classes. In other words, it seems to be a money-making venture as opposed to something to initiate change in the situation of people living in the projects. In the transition from community center with a heart to a soulless coffee-computer cafe, I think we will be lost or at least sent to other projects where we will have to start all over again.
I worry about the kids and people in the neighborhood. Are they going to feel abandoned when we leave? Who will teach those kids to read and spell their own names? Where will they go after school? What will the teenagers have to do in their spare time? Where will people go to type their resumes? I don't worry about myself at all. I can find another job. This is going to impact a neighborhood. What about the people there?
But right now it's all guessing and waiting. It's not the final decision that I dread so much as the waiting. I wish they would just come right out and tell us what's going on. I've stuck by that place for almost four years now and I just wish I knew what the plan is, whether I'm in it or not. My life is paused just waiting for someone else. I can't go back to school, I can't buy a house, I can only wait.
I don't even know what I HOPE the outcome is. As much as I don't want to lose my job, I also don't want to have to start all over in a tougher neighborhood with less to work with and less people working with me. I just want to know.
I love having my car and spaceship paid off. Heheh...
Dancin': 7.06 | Dog walkin': 5 | Total: 12.06 miles
XOXOX
Loch
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