Heroes: Ruben Castaneda

Everyday heroes are something often overlooked in today’s society. Most people think of a hero as someone who went to war, or runs around late at night in tights fighting crime. Through Ruben Castaneda’s personal narrative, he greatly expands upon the definition of who and what a hero is. Heroes are everyday people who make a difference in their community, regardless of how big or small their impact truly is.
Of all the characters Ruben shares with us, Jim, represents true heroism. When Jim came upon the broken and dilapidated building that would soon to become the New Community Church, he saw hope, when most others saw a poor investment. Regardless of the consequences that an investment like this might bring, Jim was determined to make a difference. Through his perseverance, open mindedness, and his dedication he was able to make a significant difference in the lives of the people on S Street. He not only provides a safe place of worship for those in the community, he offers after school programs for children, hospitality, good advice, housing, and most importantly, hope. Jim never gave up on anyone and because of that and
Baldie may not have been the most ethical or respectable character, but Baldie provided something to the community that many other communities were unfortunate to not have: stability. Providing protection to the community and to the church created an environment that made it possible for the church to thrive and grow. Without this crucial protection, it is likely that the church would have failed. For example, when the church was robbed, Baldie forced the burglars to return the stolen property. Without his help it is likely that the church would have been vulnerable to many other invasions. Regardless of Baldie’s drug activity, he played a crucial role in the stability and the success of the street. Sometimes angles can be