My week started with festivities for the Fourth of July, a celebratory day to commemorate the great country of the United States. I, like many others, attended pool parties and celebrated America alongside family and friends. 

However, Wednesday shocked me back into the cold reality that is the United States of America. My day started with a simple yet perplexing question; Dr. Lomax II asked the fellows to think of systems that worked. Silence filled my ears, as every fellows’ Zooms remained on mute. However, this was not the type of mute due to lack of attention or participation. This was the type of silence that made the hairs on my arm raise and sent a cold rush down my spine. The weekend prior, I joined in on the celebrations of the seemingly superior country that is the USA. However, in this moment of silence, I could not think of one system in America that truly worked. The only thing that filled my mind was systems in place that hurt and fail so many. I had to leave the meeting early to get to Netcare and consequently missed some of the discussion with the eloquent guests that joined. I must be honest, though; I left feeling quite hopeless. 

I went from there to speak with four Netcare clients and hear their stories. As I listened, I could not help but think back to the Zoom discussion I had just previously left. As I did so, I became more and more despondent. One client’s story especially struck me and made me think about how the systems of oppression that harm thousands of individuals daily. One client was a Black man who was seriously contemplating ending his life and arrived at Netcare after sending out a cry for help via Facebook. In an attempt to save his life, an acquaintance called 911 to the scene where the client had mentioned in his Facebook post. He was in no danger of hurting anyone but himself. Yet, this man ended up running from the police who were discharged to the scene. With thoughts of the numerous police brutalities in recent years, his mind raced with the fears of being the next George Floyd or Tamir Rice or Eric Garner… and the list goes on. This client spoke of how his suicidal thoughts were only exacerbated as he was tackled down and arrested.

In the moment in which this man needed the most protection, the people who were there to “serve and protect” only sent him more into crisis. How failed of a system, of a country is that. 

As I reflected back on my day that Wednesday evening, a little glimmer of hope returned. The clients’ stories were each unique and their suffering manifested from very different events. They even had their own, individualized journeys through Netcare. While the anecdotes they mentioned about their past and Netcare were distinct from one another, there was one unanimous thing that every single client mentioned while telling their story. Each and every client said how kind the Netcare staff was to them, continuing on to say that “it was not just the type of kindness that is superficial. It was the sort of kindness that you could tell came from a genuine place of care.” It gave me hope to know that, while many systems in America and around the world are vehemently unkind to many, there are people out there who work daily to battle against these ruthless systems. 

Reflecting more, I could distinctly see now what I was blind to just hours early. There was indeed one system that I could have thought of that works, and it was right in front of my eyes: Netcare Access. This place has 14 individual programs that all unify together to provide holistic care and guide individuals through their lowest points. 

With these lingering thoughts of my busy Wednesday, again, for the fifth week in a row, I was reminded how special of a place Netcare is.