Transcript

Location: Hope Restores 231 Copeland Ave.

Tashyra Jackson: So, Hope Restores, which is an African American Resource Center, is 231 Copeland Avenue, big house on the corner.  The reason that we’re in that space is because we needed to take action sooner than what we were ready to. It was at the height of a lot of social unrest that was going on, so there was a lot of emotions that were flying around, and one thing that there wasn’t a lot of was safe places to heal, safe spaces to talk about what they were feeling, what they were experiencing.  So I bought the house in 2016.  The focus there was to be able to invite people in from all walks of life, ultimately, to one heal but to realize we’re not that different.  The biggest significance of it being black-owned is that no one can put us out of it.  A lot of times, people get uneasy when they see too many black people gathering they get really uneasy.  Umm, and so with me owning the building, you can’t put us out because-cause I pay my taxes, and this is mine.  You know?  With us being in the position that we can express ourselves, we can be in that space.  It’s also empowering to invite other people in to share their differences because you’re not on guard of, am I being judged?  What is someone going to think?  And if they’re given the opportunity to explore just how similar and how alike we are, that that’s grounds for a really beautiful start of a relationship.

I’d like to invite everybody that is listening to this to join us for coffee with Hope Restores.  It’s a really great time.  There’s always a very spirited conversation.  If you’re willing to come and you’re a safe person, we invite you into our space-so. Please join us 8:30 the first Friday of every month.  My name is Tashyra Jackson.  I am the co-founder of Hope Restores.  I am an advocate in the community, but most of all, I’m a friend.