Lesson in Logos

These words: at risk, underserved, vulnerable, disconnected, underprivileged and poor have been used by institutions to describe groups of individuals in "need".?While well intentioned, these words were born out of an era where institutional and public policy was front loaded with rhetoric such as “the war on poverty, no child left behind and a nation at risk.”

Public and Social Institutions have perpetuated faceless systems and policies designed to assist individuals using snappy and emotional rhetoric paired with top-down regulatory assistance programs as they categorize their funding and groups of people as underserved, at-risk, disconnected etc. All resulting in the erosion of structural bonds between people and the very institutions that were established to support them.

The truth is, people do experience physical, emotional, economic, and social vulnerabilities when systems and the policies created, neglect to affirm inherent self-worth of every citizen.

?Manchester Bidwell Corporation acknowledges the disconnect between individuals and institutions and has decided to change its narrative on how we describe our stakeholders, to restore a sense of balance, where people and institutions function as allies. We are not at war with one another, and we choose to see everyone who enters our Center as a valuable and contributing asset to our institutions in our communities. ?