Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa on Gentrification and gen-der-trification, millenials, baby boomers and gen-xers in the cross hairs of a community: An African goes on around and about in San Francisco City

Humans can still live as one. Humans can benefit from a balance in demand and provision. This is how we raise our voices to be heard. Much as we cannot re-invent the wheel, so can't we re-invent a model of hegemony which beats that known as “community.” We only need to improve upon our idea of community. We also need to partake in community meetings or events that increase on our social interaction. This can also be looked upon as our social obligation to others. The price is setting baselines that are not oppressive towards all categories of beneficiaries nor deterrents to capital, time and resource investments. Three weighing stones can help make this balance: the need to know our population demographics; know their needs (especially as they arise from lived experiences) and; know how to re-invent ourselves. These weights will tamper the scales. Atop the space needle in Seattle, Washington State and many other high elevation places are places where one can use a binoculars or telescope to view the beautiful panoramic scenery or distant places to one's pleasure. One can say, they viewed a given site through these lenses. Using this parlance society viewed through the community lens can help explain how humans can still live as one. I do enjoy the view of SFO from Bernal heights.

One day, I watched a very seasoned and respected social worker handle seniors and “house-less” persons with what is termed as 'tough-compassionate-love.' It was at a time when doors of a center are open and breakfast is served to around 50 persons. This one intervention I admire wholeheartedly. The mechanical, methodical and repetitive aspects aside. Then, I noted a senior bent with age and hands gnarled from months of pushing a cart-ful of personal belongings walked into the center. This was out of place, it caused stress and near tantrums from this otherwise good social worker. I heard the exchange, meanwhile the line of breakfast beneficiaries was increasing. The social worker barked an order here, put the line in order and cautioned the cart-owning “house-less” senior to never bring the cart with him again. Then I became the venting stock of her distress! I was asked what I was doing near the breakfast room. Didn't I have somewhere else to stand? She didn't know I worked in the building right next to her organization! I bit my tongue. I left her territorial space. But I had learned my lesson. We all need to know our population demographics, know their needs (especially as they arise from lived experiences) and know how to re-invent ourselves. This will feed in our compassionate mode that stands between tough, strict, principled demeanor and a loving kindness.

A tree, any tree, to hold firm has to have its roots running so deep in the ground. But, that is not the whole picture. There are below ground and above ground contexts to fulfill. The below ground contexts may include: water, nutrients, texture of soil, elevation and other bio-matter (the living organisms in the ecosystem). The above ground contexts: force of winds, light, space occupied, inherent role of tree in the general ecosystem, population and other bio-matter. This is the same with humans. We are the tree and our different diversities and complexities are the roots, stem, branches and leaves. The tree is in turn influenced by both below and above ground contexts. But the tree has to stand at whatever cost. Using the same analogy, humans, needs and services walk hand in hand. There has to be a balance. Services to address needs have to be continuous. Structured demand driven services are the wheel on which humans survive. Structured service provision seems to grind ever so slowly. But, what gave rise to structured service provision? Society has, since time immemorial, used numbers to its advantage. It is a component of the atavistic nature of humans much as defending territory, hewing subsistence, relationship skills, pursuance of happiness and other survival competencies. Some outcomes of this have been habitation, production, reproduction and gender roles. These walked hand in hand. Thus the creation of structuring, class and reward systems began. Issues around security, quality, access, equality and equity arose. As populations increased, specialization became the order of the day.

Over time and with reproduction came bigger population numbers. In the case of attributes we see the rise of millenials, baby boomers and genxers. These categories are forces that have come to stay. With production came administration. Administration influenced the structures, class and reward systems. The desire to know our population demographics, their burdens, address their needs and our own day to day re-invention has to be factored in service provision. This is what will make systems work for us. A conscious move to make the services available, is the gen-der-trification that promotes balance. Much of the existing gentrification and ancillary services are a gloss paint on a mural appeasing a few but ignoring the aesthetic demands of the many. In this kind of scenario the tail wags the dog. In this scenario, the community no longer influences the design of defending territory, hewing subsistence, relationship skills, pursuance of happiness and other survival competencies. But we can still go back to the drawing board. A serious social mapping and analysis will bring back our sincere in-touch with day to day happenings. It will allow participation by all in community planning events. It will also bring on board a better understanding of our population groups, their needs, the resources needed to address the needs, hence make our community stronger and more productive. If the one shoe fits all paradigm is used, it will give rise to tensions and fault lines. Good intentions may turn out to be counter-productive.

The administrative thing to do is to know and address the needs of our populations: millenials, genxers and baby boomers even as winds of change blow. Land can be communally owned and this common good can become the basis of available social services. This is one form of setting baselines. The social services must address needs of the people in real time and this means an allowance to re-invent ourselves. Access to what is produced on land can benefit many. Otherwise, two forms of burdens will arise. The burden of good governance and responsible use. Many prohibited from accessing will be taken advantage of. Those accessing will be the elite and entitled. But good governance will promote equitable access. In turn this promotes accountability and responsible use. These must be demanded and at all times be the basis of performance by all people, elected leaders, providers, parents and those in positions of responsibility. As beneficiaries, we must be responsible in the way we provide or use the services. That is not too much to ask. This is how well and productive we engage in community or social obligations. Let us attend to ourselves and others. That way we can raise our voices to be heard.