This February, GLC recapped our January mentorship night, learned about redlining, and discussed our upcoming plans. Opening with a reflection on last month’s mentorship night reinforced how great the evening was. We all learned a ton from all the mentors with so many varied backgrounds. Each mentor provided valuable, unique insight, and we all walked away with great advice. To all of you who volunteered to be mentors — thank you! 

            The main portion of our meeting was spent discussing redlining. Redlining was the discriminatory practice in which banks and insurance companies limited loans and mortgages to certain neighborhoods with high populations of poor people and people of color. During the New Deal Era, neighborhoods were rated, and people living in lowly rated neighborhoods would be denied services. The effects are still extremely prominent today in wealth and health disparities.

            Most of the GLC members did not know about redlining before the meeting, revealing the lack of attention to the topic in schools. We analyzed maps of redlined neighborhoods, reading the descriptions left by those classifying each section. Then, we connected redlining to the modern day, using a comparison between redlined neighborhoods and the CDC’s rating of neighborhoods’ ability to respond to crises. This meeting was eye-opening as we saw the roots of problems that persist today. 

            This meeting, we also welcomed the new co-facilitator, Chelsea! We are so excited for her to join us and can’t wait to get to know her. Also, as we look ahead in the year, we are excited to begin spring activities and continue working on the period pantry. GLC is having a great year!