Setting the Table Where Everyone Belongs
Get to know Constance Merritt, the inspiring Co-Founder of Bringing Justice Home, whose personal experiences of navigating difference ignited a powerful mission to create a space where everyone belongs. Driven by a deep-seated desire to foster just relationships and ensure no one feels disposable, Constance, Maria, and their BJH team have built a grassroots nonprofit that goes beyond providing essential resources. Leading Bringing Justice Home is a challenging yet deeply rewarding endeavor, marked by the vulnerability of asking for help and the profound encouragement of community support. Beyond the vital work of the organization, Constance finds joy and rejuvenation in simple pleasures, from the nightly ritual of General Hospital to exploring the beauty of local parks and the playful companionship of her cat, Gertie. Her journey underscores the transformative power of building community around shared values and the enduring motivation found in fostering genuine connection and belonging.
What motivated you to start Bringing Justice Home and to keep it going for almost five years?
You know, it wasn't just one thing that sparked the idea for Bringing Justice Home. For much of my life, a sense of belonging felt like a constant quest. Unless there was a very specific gathering – perhaps a convention for visually-impaired, Black, lesbian, freckle-faced smarties! – I often found myself the one who stood out, the one pegged as different. And that perception of not quite belonging can often lead to being seen, or even treated, as disposable. The pandemic, in its strange way, both highlighted existing inequalities and acted as a great leveler. Amidst that upheaval, it felt like the right moment to say, "Let's be the host. Let's set the table where everyone truly belongs, where no one is ever considered disposable. Let's create the very thing I've longed for all my life."
And that's what you find at a Bringing Justice Home neighborhood gathering: a beautiful tapestry of individuals, each unique in countless ways, yet all embraced with a sense of belonging. What keeps me going, what fuels this journey, is the act of creating and nurturing that space, watching it expand, and the incredible people who have joined us – our neighbors, donors, and volunteers. It's the deep connections we've forged and the vibrant community we're building around shared values: just relationships, inherent dignity, and love – a place where these ideals can be lived into and embodied every single day.
What's it like to lead a small grassroots nonprofit?
It's a real mix – incredibly hard work, yet also deeply exciting. I'm a planner by nature; Maria often teases me that I'm always scheming! The responsibility can feel quite weighty at times, like you're carrying the hopes and well-being of your little community. But then I'm reminded of that U2 lyric, "We get to carry each other," and that resonates so deeply.
One of the ongoing challenges has been holding space for possibility. We might have started by delivering groceries, but our vision has always been so much broader. It's about saying, "Yes, we're meeting this immediate need, but we are also striving for something more." And it's been incredibly validating to witness how our existence, and that of other small nonprofits in the food assistance space, is prompting our local food bank to really examine its practices, to grapple with issues of access, waste, dignity, and respect. That feels like real progress.
It's also a very vulnerable position to be in. From the moment we decided to start Bringing Justice Home, we needed to reach out – to find people willing to serve on our board, to donate funds, and eventually to help with deliveries, create communications, and so on. We set out to dismantle the stigma associated with seeking help, and to do that authentically, we've had to take a healthy dose of our own medicine. Asking for help always carries a sense of vulnerability, but it's also been profoundly gratifying and encouraging to witness the sheer number of people who are willing and eager to lend a hand when you ask.
What are your favorite ways to unwind and recharge?
Well, Maria and I have a nightly ritual of watching the ABC soap General Hospital at eight o'clock when it's available on Hulu – that feels like a full-time job in itself! I also find immense pleasure in reading, particularly nonfiction that opens up the world to me – exploring nature, politics, social history, memoirs, business insights, or spirituality. We also host a monthly game night – and you're absolutely welcome to an invitation if you'd like to join! I love the connection and fun of card and board games, but, be warned, I'm very competitive.
I also dabble in beading, which is surprisingly fun, challenging, and completely absorbing – tiny elements, weak eyes, big clumsy hands... what could possibly go wrong? This summer, I'm really hoping to get out and explore more of our wonderful Olmsted parks here in Louisville. Oh, and I can't forget our cat, Gertie – we are utterly obsessed with her! And honestly, Maria and I are just taller children, so we're always finding ways to be silly and have a good laugh together. And, I always seem to forget about music, but when I remember, there's nothing better to nourish my spirit.
Comments
Post a Comment