Greetings to everyone visiting and reading the Summer Fellows blog. My name is

Aaron Saunders and I am currently placed at the non-profit, Cultivate CDC.

Community Development Corporations may have a sordid reputation, but my time

spent here this week, learning about Cultivate and Milo-Grogan, I am mostly

convinced (I am a cynical skeptic, forgive me) that Cultivate truly cares about

strengthening the current residents of the Milo-Grogan community. Non-profits in

general often perpetuate the unbalanced power dynamics and exploitation needed

to keep the myth of the American Dream alive and CDCs are just one type that

exist.

From my perspective, Milo-Grogan is like many predominantly black

neighborhoods in the USA – segregated and strategically developed to keep black

people in poverty. During my time here I will try to keep my savior complex in

check and my ears and mind open to learn about the needs of the people here and

how I can contribute and reciprocate care and love for this community and the

Columbus community at-large.

I am the first community college student here in the fellowship and hopefully not

the last. I don’t think I even fit the eligibility criteria of the fellowship but I’m still

going to represent. I know my capabilities and I’m here to challenge and be

challenged. This is my second attempt at college – the first was a failure due

to disability. I have multiple diagnoses, such as failed back syndrome and mental health issues, but what is most important when it comes to

learning about my disability is that it’s complex and you need to check

your assumptions. I have chronic pain and this pain is debilitating and most people

that see me without knowing me, don’t understand this. It is a constant struggle

with self-esteem, imposter syndrome, perpetual rage at my body’s limitations

(including my brain) and at the society it is in. I will use this fellowship not only to

learn about non-profits and further develop my career, but to share about my

disability and advocate for changes that make the program more accessible for

myself and others. I want people to open their minds when it comes to who they

think has a disability and what disability is and looks like. People with disabilities

are an asset. I want others to join with me in learning how to build a more

accessible workplace, community, and world for everyone.

Lastly, I will share that one of my career goals is to open a community gaming café

and art space. Think PC gaming stations, esports tournaments, Dungeons and

Dragons Campaigns, live Twitch streams, virtual reality, and social games that

makes us uncomfortable and promote learning about different perspectives!

This center will have a business/economic model that

redistributes wealth back into the community it is in. We will be neighbors helping

neighbors. Authentic connections. I want a membership structure that is lateral or

constantly changing hierarchies rather than the status quo so many orgs have.

Anarchy is creative and exciting and allows for power to be

shared. I am hopeful that this fellowship gets me at least…6 leaps forward (screw

steps) to meeting this goal.

Thank you to everyone for reading and for sharing yourselves with me as well.