Preparing for the Tamarack Community Engagement Event in Ottawa led Mark Holmgren to some provocative writing by Vu Le, who is a writer, speaker, and executive director of Rainier Valley Corps, a capacity building organization with a focus on leveling the playing field for people of colour as well as small, grass roots organizations.

From a series of writings I have done called Stories from the Street. A true story about Louie and Bruno (of course not their real names)

Sometimes, like anyone, I get side-tracked, frustrated or both. I worry about things or imagine how things "could" turn out if we don't pay attention to things. I feel that way about "movements."

There are some who think the continuation of social problems means charities have failed because not everyone is housed, or healthy, or free of violence. Imagine saying to a heart surgeon she is a failure because for every life she saves, others die from heart disease – as if that is her fault. I trust you understand my point.

This posting contains the lyrics and spoken word performed at the Summit, with links to some of my other music and to two books I have published.

People are suffering. They are next door, around the block, standing behind you at the pharmacy. They go to school with your kids. They wear the clothes you gave away. They are co-workers. They sit on park benches. Everywhere. People are suffering, everywhere.

In Edmonton, some groups want legislation to lock up the homeless when they are assessed to be too inebriated. Locked up directly in a cell. No right to a lawyer, no judge involved.

We don't mean to. Our intentions are good, but all too often the systems and benefits we set up are inadequate, sometimes even punitive.

Let’s forget our worries and our doubts and walk together unencumbered by the need for a destination. Let’s close the big books of plans and studies and turn down the volume of all that best practice noise. Let’s prefer to have faith in something less predictable and confining.