Lila Mae Brock didn’t like to see suffering, especially when it came to her community. As she watched her community decline from the time of the Great Depression to the crack epidemic of the 1990s, she made a simple decision – one that would impact an entire neighborhood forever.
Brock had worked as a cafeteria worker, so she wasn’t exactly rich when she retired – at least not financially. She had a different kind of wealth.
Brock knew the power of self-sufficiency and community. Rather than abandon her neighborhood or depend on governmental assistance, she took action. When she saw hungry community members eating garbage, she took her money and cooked them food. Others in the neighborhood began to take notice.
Before long, a neighborhood that had been expected to die began to thrive. Using her social security check and small donations from community members, the neighborhood garnered resources to get food, affordable housing, and even a community center with resources for everyone!
Brock defended her community against crime, drugs, and poverty through her hard work, ingenuity, and bringing people together. She understood the art of uplifting and unifying others. We, too, must always seek ways to defend ourselves against anything that would harm our communities!