St. James AME Church is the oldest African American Church in Denton and the 3rd oldest African American Church in the state of Texas. This church’s rich history is intimately intertwined with the history Freedman’s Town, Quakertown, and Southeast Denton. Though their current building was constructed in the 60s, the history of this church spans back to 1875. You might recall that this church recently hosted a heavily attended prayer vigil for the victims of the church shooting in Charleston, SC.
For several years, the church has had an accessibility problem and invited me on many occasions to brainstorm possible solutions. Because of the location of their front door ramp, the elevation of their property, and old sidewalks leading to the church, there was no easy way for wheelchairs or casket rollers to access the church from the street level. Federal ADA requirements would not allow a ramp coming from the street at the grade necessary to reach the ramp leading into the church. Here’s a picture that shows this:
The city was willing to help, but our options were limited. There were solutions available to the church involving reconstructing their ramp, entryway, or other door entrances, but these all involved considerable costs that were too much for this modest congregation.
Pat Smith, head of both Vision Ministries and Serve Denton, contacted me one day looking for projects and opportunities. He had the connections to willing people and ample resources and just needed pointed to specific needs in our community. Within a week, we got Pat and his team connected to Barbara Ross, Community Development Administrator with the city and Keith Gabbard, City Street Superintendent, along with leaders from the church.
A solution was found: the city would construct a ramp from the street to the property along the side of the church where the required grading would work, Pat’s team would construct a permeable sidewalk connecting the the street ramp along the side of the church to front entrance ramp, the church would participate by contributing a modest amount and volunteers.
On June 27, using additional volunteers from Denton’s Freedom House, the project was completed and greater accessibility was brought to St. James AME Church.
This is a great example of what happens all the time in Denton and serves as a great example of the potential of what still could be done if we better utilized the power and generosity of our citizens to solve our city’s most pressing problems.
The political “conversation” in our country tends to center on the question of whether government is the problem or government is the solution. Local government here in Denton has the potential to create a new paradigm and a new way of thinking about government that relieves this dichotomy: local government as a platform.
Local government can serve as a platform upon which the citizens can create the type of city they want. It sets the stage, it wisely allocates resources that can leverage and unlock the greatest amount of private investment and contribution, it helps point to the problems, it connects the dots, and fosters an environment of entrepreneurial-like environment of social innovation so that the citizens can be unleashed to create a great and just city.
Thanks to everyone involved who made this particular solution possible.
Now, what would you to like to create in Denton or what big problem would you like to solve? How can we help you do it?