So I Stumbled During My First Campaign Speech

I can talk  for hours about sexual violence and equal rights without missing a beat.  Put a camera on me, put a mic in front of my face, ask me the hard questions, I've got it.  But apparently, the same does not apply when I'm supposed to be promoting myself.  Last week the generous folks at the Jeff Richey Experience gave me the mic during the intermission of their performance at Berea Coffee and Tea.  It was the perfect time to get out in front of my local community and I just couldn't wait to share my enthusiasm with everyone.  But then the mic was handed to me and all eyes were on me, and I felt like a little girl playing grown-up tea party.  I stumped, I stuttered, I was no match for the competing sidewalk greetings and band down the street. Everything that came out of my mouth sounded like a script and the crowd just wanted the band back up there already. I always knew I would never be the world's greatest politician.  Thank God I'm not trying to be one.  I'm just an ordinary person interested in doing my part to make this place better.  In case you were lucky enough to miss it, here is what I had to say that night.

Next time, I'll remember that this campaigning business is not about promoting myself, but it's about advocating for my community.  That should make it easier.  Thanks for your grace and see you back out there.

Jeff Richey Experience Intermission Remarks

July 12, 2014

Good evening.  My name is Mae Suramek.  And I’m running for city council.  But I’m not up here tonight to ask for your vote.   In fact, don’t vote for me.  I’m serious.  But please vote for someone you believe in.  Or better yet, run yourself – the filing deadline isn’t until August 12^th and there are 8 seats up for grabs.

Vote for someone or run yourself.  Unless you’re OK with the fact that right this very moment you could be asked to leave this coffee shop simply because of who you are dating, or who you are married to.

Vote for someone or run yourself.  Unless you’re good knowing that some of our neighbors survive only by going to the local food bank every month.

Vote for someone or run yourself. If you want to live in the kind of town where people with skin my shade and darker still experience street harassment regularly.  Where men, women, and children are still experiencing rape and sexual violence right here, right now.  Where heroin deaths occur weekly – a problem so severe that our local police has created a special drug taskforce.

Vote for someone or run yourself.  Unless  you believe that Berea has already peaked on its potential:

That our days of Boone Tavern serving 500 people every Friday night,

Our days of thousands of people flocking to Berea to watch our homegrown theater production - Wilderness Road,

Our days of being courageous enough to choose to be on the right side of history,

Our days of working together to prepare land, build structures, create industries, and provide opportunities for learning and growth for our children,

Are over.

Vote for someone or run yourself.  Unless you’re perfectly happy, comfortable, content exactly with the way things are right now.

Because I’m not.

And I did vote for someone.  In fact, like most responsible and loyal Americans who once had great faith in the “system”, I diligently did my homework and voted in every primary, every general election.  And things haven’t changed much.

And so I started working from the ground up – volunteering, switching jobs to non-profit, chairing our local human rights commission.  And things still felt the same.   

So I’m running.  Because I've come to believe that until the people who are in decision-making positions start to reflect everyday ordinary people like you and me, things will never change.

So, don’t vote for me. 

Join me on the ticket or vote for someone who believes that this place we choose to call home, can be even greater, safer, kinder - and unequivocally unafraid to embrace it’s bold, radical roots of opportunity, equality, and inclusive love.

Thank you.

  

Ten Ways to Lose An Election (With Your Soul Intact)

1.  Turn down campaign contributions and ask people to invest in their local economy instead.

2.  Put your name in little bitty text on all campaign materials, in order to focus on what's really at stake:  your community.

3.  Put up a grand total of 5 yards signs in the entire town... in order to minimize political dissent between neighbors (but still let the world recognize your name on the ballot)
 
4.  Be the 1.2%.
 
5.  Speak up when those in your registered party act without logic, or worse: remain silent.
 
6.  Encourage others to run against you.
 
7.  Have coffee with those who would never ever vote for you.

8.  Publicly support liquor, fairness, and the mingling of races.

9.  Ask fellow voters what they are willing to do to make things happen.

10. Promise little.  Listen a lot.  Act even more.

Who are we kidding folks, I don't have a chance.  

Unless of course you want to prove the world wrong by showing up at the polls on November 4th in masses.  Unless you want to buck "politics as usual" and demonstrate that civic participation can be kind-spirited, cooperative, non-partisan, and authentic.  Unless you feel called to support a long-shot candidate running on an $800 riding lawn mower budget, purposeful naivete, and the founding principles of love and inclusivity of this town.   

The most well-meaning experts tell me I don't have a chance.  That this very blog is political suicide.  Any chance you want to help me prove that we can do things differently, that authentic voices of ordinary citizens matter?  If so, you can start by sharing this on your social media platform of choice.  Oh, and maybe consider running too?  

Meet My Cohabitants

Most likely, you've crossed paths with our family at some point having breakfast at the Amish Store or getting some Blue Bell ice-cream at the Fudge Shop.  But just in case you haven't met all those people that come with my total package, here we are.  We wear brightly colored shoes, speak two different languages, share 3 different faiths, and come in about 4 shades.  We are Appal-ASIAN.  Truly we are.  If you don't believe me, do check out this old blog of mine: 5 Things That Prove I'm Really Appalachian.

Between the five of us, we are:  a Berea College staff member, a breast-cancer survivor, a retired Las Vegas casino worker, a first-grader, and a non-profit administrator.  We share a multi-generational dwelling with  separate (but attached) living quarters. A few of us were born right here in Madison county.  The rest of us are honored to make it our home.  

P.S.  All of these stellar photos were taken by the talented Ray Davis, a Berea College graduate who now runs http://www.raydavisphotography.com/.   And we took them all right here in Berea - the Old Town train depot and the Berea City Park!

Why Berea: Good Friday on Aisle 1

Almost three years ago, we converted our Master Bedroom into a living room and added a full apartment on to our home for my 64 year old parents.  While a bit young to be fully retiring, my dad had a massive heart attack about 8 years ago that left him severely disabled, leading to our decision to cohabitate.  My parents who had been living in Las Vegas for the past decade, are Thai, and if I had to be honest, there have been many moments over the last three years that I've wondered if this move was the right decision for them.  My mom has to drive 45 miles just to buy her favorite spices.  Dad's doctors and specialists are all in Richmond and Lexington.  There is no Thai community in Berea to speak of, unless you count Miss Wanpen who owns the local Thai restaurant.

And just when you least expect it, something so seemingly insignificant happens to confirm what you've known in your heart to be true all along.  My multi-cultural, multi-faith family is right where we are supposed to be.  This Good Friday evening, my mother returned home from her weekly grocery shopping at Wal-mart with this colorful cross clutched in her hands.  Mr. "James", the 80-something  year old, Berea local/front door greeter, who always tells my mom she is the most beautiful woman he's ever met, handed her this cross tonight.  He had noticed my mom in the store before, pushing my dad in his wheelchair, and he asked what had happened to my dad.  After my mom told Mr. James about my dad's heart attack, he reached into his pocket and asked her to give this cross to my dad.  He said that he had blessed it himself, and that he hoped it would help my dad get better.  And that is how my non-Christian, non-local, Thai mother celebrated her first Good Friday, witnessing first-hand, the true Gospel of love.  Right there at the entrance of our local Wal-mart.  Right here in Berea, Kentucky.  Right here where we belong.

What is One Thing You Would Change About Berea? How Might YOU Set This Change In Motion?

Saturday Groupthink group•think [groop-thingk]   noun 

1. the practice of approaching problems or issues as matters that are best dealt with by consensus of a group rather than by individuals acting independently 

 

My partner and I are considering purchasing a home in Berea, and the lack of neighborhoods with sidewalks and lack of neighborhoods with sidewalk access to amenities has been pretty startling and discouraging. We could live in a neighborhood off 1016 and even though we would be within reasonable walking distance (for our current health) to stuff in town, there is no safe way to walk up the 55mph road. I know the same goes for Scaffold Cane, and other roads in Berea. While there are other things I think should change in Berea, the lack of sidewalks and safe paths for pedestrians is a really big one that, if dealt with, could open up the town for more community-building and put a dent in tackling other issues.

I know this is one that everyone always brings up, but we need to make it legal to sell alcohol in Berea, at least in local restaurants. In fact, I would prefer it be limited to local businesses, so we don't have a bunch of chain stores like Applebee's coming in. However we do it, it needs to be done. There is just no other way to bring in the kind of revenue needed to make the many other changes we would all like to see.

A sidewalk from college down scaffold Cain rd so people and kids can walk safely.  Bring before city planning and implore them to use infrastructure monies to build these.

Good activities for teens - bring businesses like movie theaters, new restaurants and laser tag or entertainment companies in.  Encourage law makers and the college to support economic development youth engagement and tourism. Stop sending this down the road to Richmond or Lexington. Build up this community and make more young people and tourists want to be here.

I would put more playgrounds.  There are tons of children where I live (next to Whitehouse Clinic) and empty lots.

Not to get too deep but Net neutrality has ended, and one could argue that the internet is the base line of capitalism.  We should offer free online service to every business and person that lives in this town, lets push the envelope of what we can do for the greater good.  if Berea is really going to be a craft mecca and not a random pawn shop you pass by driving down I-75 we need to be spectacular... Let's have glitter on us cause we rock so hard on being a strong community that supports itself in the information age.

 

Every time I am in Asheville, it reminds me of Berea. The potential for Berea to be the most awesome city in  KY there. Organic, local, just add an awesome drink to the mix.

* Every Saturday from now through election day (November 4th), I will be utilizing social media to pose a question to Bereans to explore what we value most about our town, and what we are willing to do to make it the very best.  Please chime in as much as you can so we better understand what is on the minds of Bereans with different perspectives.  Feel free to add your comments here too!

What Makes You Drive To Lexington?

Saturday Groupthink group•think [groop-thingk]   noun 

1. the practice of approaching problems or issues as matters that are best dealt with by consensus of a group rather than by individuals acting independently

Note:  I realize that these thoughts captured on social media probably do not reflect broader segments of the Berea population.  I therefore have plans to take this show on the road in the future!
 

 

Grocery/Food Stores

Aldi  (3)

Trader Joe’s (3)

Good Foods Coop (2)

Kroger (2)

A decent bakery

Liquor Barn

International/ethnic grocery stores (2)

Another grocery store. I think it would be amazing to see a small grocery store, like an improved IGA.  It might not have EVERYTHING Kroger does, but I have seen IGAs with a good selection of staples like good produce, organic flour butter milk, etc. Specialty items could still be bought at Happy Meadow, etc or in Richmond. People need a place to get produce year round besides Wal-Mart.  Save-a-lot has some, but not much in terms of fresh foods. Maybe even just a produce store like Kelly's in Richmond.  Don't get me wrong, I love the farmers market etc, but it isn't a year round option and isn't affordable to a lot of people in Berea.  

 

Grocery/Food Items

Good basmati rice

Beer/Wine (5)

Chickpea flour

Edamame

Gourmet food products

Fair Trade bananas

Good gluten free food

Fresh quality food

Seafood (2)

Loose-leaf tea

Organic Valley milk

 

And then this beautiful thing happened…

 If there are specific organic groceries or non-toxic hygiene or cleaning supplies you'd like to see, Happy Meadow can sometimes order and have in each Wednesday. The cost might be more, but probably not more than the gas to get to Richmond or Lexington.  We have OV butter, so I'm sure we can get the milk. Sometimes, though, there is a minimum order requirement of three or more and either the customer must commit to the extra or the store will sometimes carry the remainder. (Or get friends to go in with you.) I didn't mean to hijack this discussion, but I hope it's helpful to know that HM will try to accommodate special needs. :)

I'd like to purchase it regularly. Kept the conversation on this thread in case others are interested too.

And this…

In PA they had these stores called "Produce Junction". They thrived on selling massive quantities of fresh produce, most of it came in the same day. It was all bagged and the bags sold for $1, $2, or $3, and someone behind the counter would grab the bags for you and give you whatever amounts you wanted. It was usually 2/3 the price of grocery store produce, fresher, and less damaged, even though you didn't get to pick your own out. They had exotic fruits and vegetables, really cheap bedding plants, and all kinds of ethnic foods.

And this…

Don't forget about the food co-op's like Foothills Coop, orders are taken once a month and you pick them up in Richmond. Tim and Jane also order from something Better Organic and Frontier every other month. And Happy Meadows will order bulk for you. It is possible to eat damn good here and not have to drive to the store every week. Between these I listed above, the farmers markets and our garden we have pretty much divorced ourselves from Kroger/Meijer.

And finally, this…

I've been thinking a "free" table somewhere would be neat - where people who have extra produce can put it and others can pick up what they want.   

 

 

Shopping

Target (4)

Anthropologie

Make-up

Marshall’s

Best Buy

Tuesday Mornings

Mega bookstores

Clothes

General shopping

 

Entertainment/Recreation

Discount movies

Theaters that show independent films

Good movies

Hookah Bar

A good dog park

A decent, affordable, accessible recreation center that has a pool for year round swimming and rehab activities.  

Teenagers have no place to go, no real activities

Urban Ninja
 

 

Dining/Drinking

Common Grounds

A quality meal

A good local restaurant that's not pizza or Mexican

A good donut store

A decent delicatessen

Barbecue

Korean food

Restaurants

 

Medical

Endocrinologist

Doctors (2)

 

Other

Home Depot (4)

University of KY

Glass recycling

Fabric and sewing supplies

T-Mobile

And this final comment made me kind of sad, and reflective, and that much more convinced that together, maybe we can change things?...

My paycheck. I work there. Not even close to an equally paying job here.  Berea needs to look around and ask, besides the college what is really making Berea great. I love it but I'm starting to outgrow it. It makes me sad.

* Every Saturday from now through election day (November 4th), I will be utilizing social media to pose a question to Bereans to explore what we value most about our town, and what we are willing to do to make it the very best.  Please chime in as much as you can so we better understand what is on the minds of Bereans with different perspectives.  Feel free to add your comments here too!

 

What's the Best Part About Living in Berea?

Saturday Groupthink 
 group•think [groop-thingk]   noun 

1. the practice of approaching problems or issues as matters that are best dealt with by consensus of a group rather than by individuals acting independently.

 

                          Photo credit:  Donna Anderson, Berea Food Examiner

 

Berea is a town filled with diverse people and lots and lots of creatives who care about the earth.  So in short the best part of Berea is the community.

 

Berea College convocations.

 

Grassroots activism.

 

Small town traditions with 21st century attitude.

 

There's more than one "best" thing! How about the thriving academic community due to being the home of a consistently rated best liberal arts college in the south? Or the beautiful mountain scenery. Or the general feel of welcome/community by the citizens. Or Papaleno's! Or the fight by several citizens for social justice locally and globally.

 

I appreciate that there is a small town feel while at the same time, so many cultural opportunities provided by Berea College and the art community. Berea Community School ranks right up there on my list of things to like, too. I think the biggest thing I love about Berea is that there are so many people who have a broader world view and a sense of interconnectedness. I've spent time in other small towns where it seemed folks just are not aware of the world outside their towns and never think about the big picture. I love being in a town where it is easy to find other like minded people!

 

The women owned businesses and locally owned places. There are still a few that the big chains haven't pushed out.

 

Its history.

 

In 30 minutes, a gathering of diverse, complex and intelligently curious people who do not know the rules of football will come together for a Super Bowl Party. In hand, they will carry fresh baked focaccia, organic pâté' (the cattle tag number available on request) and homemade vegan and gluten free soups for all.

The opportunities in berea... that is what I like about this community, the chance... we are so close to extreme poverty, yet so close to industrialized communities we are given the chance to define what our community will be, sadly on that note we don't have a decent grocer in this town, hopefully with ebt money flowing to the farmers market we can start a new... it is better than our government dollars flowing to wal-mart any day as they just take money out of the local system...

Local foods economy and the wealth of speakers/musicians/artists we get in town because of the college.

 

* Every Saturday from now through election day (November 4th), I will be utilizing social media to pose a question to Bereans to explore what we value most about our town, and what we are willing to do to make it the very best.  Please chime in as much as you can so we better understand what is on the minds of Bereans with different perspectives.  Feel free to add your comments here too!