L.O.V.E. Bridges The Divide Between Police And The Rest Of The Community
L.O.V.E. Is The Answer to bridging the gap between peace officers and the rest of the community.
This post is 100% positive -- for people who want to be active in promoting peace and love in the world. In America, one of the biggest problems we are facing is the gap existing between peace officers and the rest of the community. Let's bridge the gap together. Each one of us can make a difference. L.O.V.E. Is The Answer.
L.O.V.E. stands for:
LEARN about the community in which you live, work or serve. If your job is to protect and serve as a peace officer, get to know the people in the community. Fill your mind with knowledge about the things that make that community tick. If you’re a community member and you haven’t ever made small talk with a peace officer that you’ve seen a dozen times, change that and say hello. Introduce yourself and say thank you for doing a difficult job and let them know that you appreciate the work they do in service to the community.
OPEN your heart to the humanity in the community. Get past the stereotypes and the profiles. Get to know people on a personal level. If you’re a peace officer, check in on people who are struggling — not to make an arrest, but to genuinely care about how that person is doing. Community members, find out when an officer’s birthday is and give that officer a birthday card with a Starbucks gift card inside. Pray for the officers who patrol the neighborhood.
VOLUNTEER yourself in service to the community. Community members, get together to host an informal officer appreciation event for the peace officers who are in your district. Seated massage by the local massage therapist, home cooked meals and letters of appreciation really go a long way to break through some of the stress and tension of an incredibly hard job. Peace officers, get involved with community events. Become a coach for a youth team, offer to participate in community beautification efforts by painting or mowing lawns alongside other members of the community. Get involved with each other so that you can be part of the solution in each other’s lives.
EMPOWER others to do the same. Simply live out the above three steps and teach others in your circle how to do it too. This is the step that pays it forward. This is how we unite as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The practice of L.O.V.E. will transform a law enforcement agency, a ministry, a community group and an entire nation. I’ve seen it happen firsthand many, many times on a local level -- so why not on a national level? We can make that happen! Are you ready to see America live up to its potential? It’s time to make a choice. Fear or Love. I choose love.
Join me in using L.O.V.E. to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time — bridging the gap that exists between peace officers and the rest of the community. Learn more, including how your company, police department, school, ministry or other organization can take the lead in your community by licensing the film and hosting small or large screening events at www.walkingwhileblackthemovie.com.