“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.”
~ Nelson Mandela
Volunteerism has always been a big part of my life. Giving, donating time and energy towards a worthy cause, working alongside others, and helping to change the lives of those in my community – I see it as being part of my social responsibility. From my hometown of Houston and every city I’ve called home, I’ve witnessed the impact of social engagement and giving. Volunteering is the gift that keeps on giving!
I wish I could talk more about women like Houston’s very own Tina Knowles who was not only working on her daughter, Beyonce’s, future in music, she was also volunteering to help young teens and women who entered the Miss Black Houston Pageant. I remember when I was selected to be involved with her signature event. If I could express my appreciation to (who so many affectionately call) “Mama Tina” for being the Houstonian beautician who dreamed big for her family and other young girls like me in her community, I would. She demanded grace and confidence from me, from day one. The rehearsals for the show were about order and precision. The pageant committee were volunteers making sure that we represented the best of Houston. Her dedication inspired me in so many ways, both in my professional and my community work. My motto: Be more than your work title, be involved with people.
Reflections on the Power of Volunteerism
I had the chance to sit down with Dan Simons, philanthropist and co-owner of Farmers Restaurant Group (FRG), based in Washington, D.C. In addition to their popular restaurants, cafe’s and distilleries, FRG spearheads numerous community initiatives from partnering with D.C. schools and providing internships in hospitality and culinary arts, to being on the front lines during the pandemic, providing food for frontline workers and support for those in need.
We spoke about something we are both passionate about: improving our communities. Interestingly, we both agreed that we are better at our given professions because we get to get out front and connect with our communities: speaking to, touching and relating to parents, community organizers, store clerks and school teachers – everyday people who make up our neighborhoods and our city!
I shared with Dan that as a physician, I love the narrative and the story that develops overtime about who my patient is as a person. They come in with their concerns, they question my opinion, they express their emotions, both good and bad– and that human to human relationship is what allows me to be a better doctor. Being relatable and trusted requires me to be both vulnerable and visible to the communities I serve. Jokingly, I told him, I bet some of my patients run to Founding Farmers for a meal!
Talking with Dan brought back good memories of growing up in Houston, like the business owners who invested in me as an inner-city youth. There was Stanze Peterson, my first dance teacher who gave me a dance scholarship so I could continue coming to classes. Then there was Dr. Edward A. Lord, the OB-GYN who worked in a low-income neighborhood, and gave me an after school job. In the beginning, he told me he could not afford to pay me $4.25 an hour. I cried because I wanted to stay, and although I knew nothing about employment, payroll taxes and business expenses, he decided to keep me on not only as a new hire but as another member of his family. Years later, when I got accepted to medical school, I walked into his office and showed him the letter. I couldn’t tell if he had a twinkle in his eye or a tear. The debt he took on hiring me has been repaid many times over.
While Dan is a restaurateur and I’m a physician, we understand that communities are made up of families, and the individuals in those families can be connected to folks in other families, which in turn connects them to other communities… like concentric circles. We’re all connected in some way, and that’s the dynamic energy that creates meaningful bonds and lasting relationships for people like me and Dan. That energy motivated us to see how we could work together. I told him about my nonprofit, L.A.C.E. UP and he asked one simple question: how can I help?
The Farmers Restaurant Group team partnered with L.A.C.E. UP, last month (June), for the AAU Region 3 Track and Field Championship 2024 at the Prince George’s Sports Complex for our Healthy Teeth & Gums Initiative. They provided a healthy-catered kickoff breakfast for the entire volunteer officials and staff. His staff also helped L.A.C.E. UP set up our dental health table so that we could give out dental supplies and teach kids how to care for their teeth and gums.
You see, the success of communities relies on people like Dan and myself coming together to figure out what we have in common. Together through volunteerism, we can make massive changes and improve our communities one idea at a time.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
How Can I Help?
Are you ready to make an impact in your community through volunteering? Let’s start by asking the question that Dan asked. How Can I Help?
- Make a care package for a college student who’ll soon be going off to college
- Organize a community library, swapping books
- Host an end-of-summer back to school drive, gifting school supplies to kids in your neighborhood
- Check on an elderly neighbor and make sure they are safe and have food
Learn more about Dan Simons and his incredible work:
https://www.dansimonssays.com/about
Learn more about Farmers Restaurant Group:
