#iracross

For this #inspirationtuesday, we are pleased to share an interview with Mr. Ira Cross. Mr. Cross is a community organizer currently working at the Mahoning Valley Veteran’s Services Commission. 

How do you define the term “community organizer?” How about “community leader?”

I define the term “community organizer” as someone who helps to build up their community and motivates other people to making their neighborhood a better place.

I define the term “community leader” as someone who works together with organizations, other community leaders, and government bring out positive results for the community.  

Who have been the most influential people who have inspired you to be a community organizer?

The most influential people in my life start with my mother (Matosha Cross), Rebecca Soldan, Debra Cunningham, and Pastor Willie Peterson.

What was the best project you were involved in? (Please share how you define “best.”)

The “best” project I have been involved in is my life.  I appreciate having the opportunity of being involved with every project.  They are all the best.  I am able to influence someone at every event and that makes every event the best. 

What was the worst project you were involved in? (see above)

You learn from every project and events planned.  I look at every event as a learning experience. Even if very few people attend an event someone is being helped in a positive way.

What are the ways you can get your community to “buy in” to the project you’re working on?

We get the community to “buy in” to the projects we work on by asking the community what they would like to see in their community and forming our project accordingly.

What relationships are the most important to build upon in order to see a project to its completion? 

The most important relationships to build upon in order to see a project to completion involve contributors, volunteers, political entities and community leaders.

Can you share some of the hurdles you’ve encountered in getting projects off the ground? How did you overcome them?

Some of the hurdles we have encountered are bad weather, community trust, and leadership transitions.  Bad weather can be worked out by having secondary options, if possible.  When we were new to the community it was difficult for the community to trust that we were not there to get “numbers.” We overcame our hurdles by staying in the community, in touch with the community and earning the trust of the community.  Dealing with leadership transitions, we made sure that the coalition was well structured.  

How do you handle the stress of community organizing?

When community organizing gets stressful I think about the happiness I see in children and families when they get the help they need.  I think about how the event is helping the community in a positive way. 

What advice do you have for people struggling with their own ideas or projects?

 Be consistent and never give up.  Find others that are doing the same or similar work and ask questions.  Always get to know your community and never assume that the help they need is the help that they want at the time.   

Let’s say your project is successful and you “work yourself out of a job.” How would that feel for you? 

I would love to work myself out of a job.  That is my whole purpose.  Working myself out of one job would lead me to finding another purpose/job.    

Is there a specific project you would like to share/ talk about with us?

One of our main projects that I like to work on every year is our annual Block Party where we have free food, music, a bounce around, and Health & Wellness information for the public.  Another event that we have is called Pop-Up basketball, where we set up hoops in a church parking lot for the children of the community to play.  Along with basketball we have other activities like yard games, jump ropes, hoola hoops, and balls. I also participate (DJ) with another group who has pop-up Block Parties around the neighborhood in the vacant lots and some of the businesses in the area.  There is music, free food, bounce houses, library van, and a game truck.