Do we owe endings solemnity?
Recently a friend recounted to me the story of going to see a relative who was in end of life care. My friend and her partner arrived to the facility, unintentionally dressed in bright colors. Bounding into their relative’s hospital room, they regaled the patient with stories of a joyous recent trip. At a certain point they caught themselves, wondering whether the way they were dressed, acting, speaking was inappropriate. They wondered,“Do we owe this moment solemnity? Are we defiling this moment with our joy and laughter?”
As the two visitors walked out of the room for what would sadly be the last time, the nurses beckoned the two to the nurses’ station. It turns out they wanted to thank the friends for coming and bringing an energy and levity that was very often missing in what was, of course, a very somber place. Though some lives were nearing the end, the two energetic visitors’ light was shining into the situation — bringing joy to those whose lives would keep going on.
This isn’t to say there isn’t a respect and seriousness that we need to bring to endings — there certainly should be! However, when we have the time to end with care, there should always be room for levity, humor, and light.
May you have a little of all of it in the coming year!
1) Community-run bookstore closes its own books
Malvern Book Cooperative was established in 2012 when patrons of the St. Ann’s bookstore in Malvern (Worcestshire, UK) came together to save the town’s only bookstore from going out of business. However, after 14 years, the group felt it was time to wrap things up. Though the store will close in March, the group promises to continue to support community literacy events and festivals in and around the town.
2) Bitter pill for beloved Chinese Pharmacy in Manila
Lui Chuon was opened in Manila’s Binondo District in 1951 by Chinese immigrant Ng Tong. For years it retained its family ownership and old-world charm as the neighborhood around it grew and modernised. However, deaths, retirements, and disinterest from the new generation forced the decision to close.
The family is now in discussions to donate some of their old relics to a neighborhood museum. (BTW, the pictures in the article really make it worth the click!)
3) Former inmate buys closed North Carolina prison, plans to convert to rehabilitation center
While we’ve all heard the old chestnut about the “inmates running the asylum”, in this case we’ve got a formerly incarcerated businessman, one Kerwin Pittman, who has purchased the decommissioned Wayne Correctional facility. Pittman was locked up in this very system, and he is repurposing this prison in order to support other folks transitioning back into civilian life. The site is about 19 acres and sits across the street from the Neuse Correctional Institution.
I don’t know how this will go, but the model is intriguing and I wish them a lot of success!
4) Indigenous education nonprofit wins bid for shuttered university
When the trustees of New York’s Wells College voted to shut down the school after nearly 160 years, it set off a fierce bidding war for new owners of the sprawling campus. Early this year, it was announced that the deed had been sold to The Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge (HIIK). HIIK is an educational entity established in 2011. Its mission is to create a fully accredited university which is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Native technologies, sciences, languages and arts of the Nation’s first peoples.
HIIK has an ambitious plan to bring economic revitalization, vibrant community space, and affordable housing to the land, which will be held as a community trust, along with the establishment of the new university.
5) Portland loses beloved paint recycling depot
For over 30 years. MetroPaint provided the people of Portland, Oregon with a place to safely dispose of old paint and also buy recycled paint — sometimes in exciting new colors! However, the rollout of a statewide paint recycling initiative meant that Metro was no longer necessary.
6) Civic tech incubator changes form
Since 2018, CivStart has promoted government tech enablement and the growth of startups developing tools for local governments. In December, the board determined that retaining their 501(c)3 status was no longer in support of their mission. The group will spend the next few months winding down the non-profit and pulling resources into their for-profit Civic Ventures platform.
7) ARTICLE: Do you know where your exits are?: Why responsible charities are always thinking about closure
“Planning for closure does not weaken a charity’s commitment to its purpose. It strengthens it. It recognises that impact is not only about how an organisation grows, but also about how it ends. A charity that closes well protects people, preserves trust, and honours the work already done. Journeys end whether we plan for them or not. The question is whether charities choose their exits, or pretend they do not exist until the road runs out.”
Great LinkedIn article by two charity sector professionals in the UK who I hadn’t heard about until a good pal tagged me on their post. Thanks, good pal! It is always so cool to find The Others.
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