*The hyperlinks below will take you to my community responses. Feel free to check them out as you read!*

When community responses were first presented to the curriculum, I found myself dreading the assignment. I kept telling myself I would much rather write an entire research paper on some asque topic, than go out and explore my community. However, that perception was crushed after I realized how much fun it actually could be.

My first endeavor was visiting a local cafe, Bagels and Joe. I am a coffee extremist, so I figured if I was going to initially be miserable, I suppose I should attend a place I would enjoy. I sat down with a Chai Tea Latte and began writing down my observation. As it turns out, I enjoyed myself. As I listened to soft Ed Sheeran play over the speakers, and watching customer after customer enter, I ended up with a lot more realizations than I had anticipated. Soon afterwards, I began exploring my community without an assignment attached. Whether it be visiting a small coffe and book store in the Haymarket, attending a Husker football game, or stopping to admire local artists’ handy work. A once perceived assignment became a chance for adventure.

One of my best pieces of writing on community actually occurred over the Summer, Jazz in June. After the first community response, I was itching for the opportunity to write a poem about that event. The opportunity of culture, community, and music made a perfect choice for my second response. Of course, the teacher was skeptical. How could you efficiently write a community response about an event that happened months prior? When in fact, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that day. It was nearly perfect.

Jazz in June provided a new outlook on my community. Every summer people gather to eat amazing food, sway along to the smoothe  music, and laugh together. Becoming equals and connecting through something incredibly beautiful, jazz. I mimicked the poem to jazz music. No specific structure. As if the music (and the poem) could take you to a different place. One far away from your current troubles or worries. This place on the Universities campus was influencing people of all categories. The artwork surrounding the event gave even more of a sentimental picnic feel. I don’t think I ever wanted to leave. It impacted me more so with a chance to enter the community in a new way. Before Jazz in June, I had just returned from a two week trip overseas to Europe, and this community event made me feel as though I was back home in an entirely new kind of way.

As I reflected back onto this event, I realized how cultures mix heavily in Lincoln. For more inspiration, I decided to take a brief drive down 27th street, and cruise through North Lincooln, leading eventually to the downtown area. I never noticed how many different ethnicities and cultures presented themselves. Whether it be a Korean supermarket, an Authentic Mexican Resteraunt, or bakeries of all nations, you were bound to see different sides of the world meet in one spot. To me, Jazz in June became one of those as well. Brining the culture of Jazz music, and the presence of the great Louis Armstrong right to Lincoln. Jazz music has proven to be an important part of history and culture for the African Americans. Originating in New Orleans in the early twentieth century, I reflected more on my past trip to New Orleans in 2016. I began to make connections to the way Jazz music felt there, and how they transmitted those same emotions to my own community. The rhythm and “feel” of the music in both places took me by surprise at how helpful it could be to bring cultural awareness to all people. Including myself, most of all.

I learned how to appreciate African American culture, and their roots, without coming across as offensive. In our fast moving society, it is easy to get lost in translation. Even more easy to offend those around you and commonly where they come from. Now, let’s be honest. Controversy will always arise in both the simple and complicated circumstances. In order to take on these cultural differences in a positive way must be to first appreciate, and understand. Without those two things, attempting to mend any brokenness is futile.