Personal Narrative: Benefiting The Community

Benefiting the Community
I live in an area that has many needs and is desperate for inspirational leaders. City Heights is generally a high crime neighborhood riddled with gangs, drugs, and general violence. A prominent leader in my community that I have had the privilege of working under is Dante Dauz. He works very close with the local authorities and gangs to mediate peace and works to bring resolutions. He is a supervisor of the Alliance for Community Empowerment, which offers a program called UPAC (Union of Pan Asian Communities). The single most important activity I have participated has been working as a leader in this program. . This is the most important activity since hundreds of people were helped, mainly homeless and refugees. Some of the ways in which they were helped was by providing them with food, warm clothing given with warm and consoling heart. Although this activity is
I have seen and been directly impacted by the benefits of his leadership. His care, humility, and optimism have encouraged me to give of myself for the benefit of others. This is very different of way of living in contrast to my culture. My Iraqi culture does not promote volunteering or giving of oneself in terms of time, skill or money without gaining some sort of personal advantage. I must admit that my initial intention of getting involved was so that I could include it in my college applications and scholarships. However, after two years, I have gained much understanding about life, choices, and about the great gratification of serving people in need. In my family, I am the oldest and have one younger brother. Though I am a role model to him, in some ways I am that to my parents also. Neither of my parents graduated from college or served in leadership in their community at any level. So, I am hoping that my positive experiences will have significant impact all my family