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The Slum Cycle
The general consensus in the slums is, "No one cares, so why should we?"
What they fail to understand is that the only people who care about any
community are the people who live and work within it.
The problem in the poor areas is the people who live there believe the only
way to make a better life for themselves is to get out. What they need to do is
use their gifts to improve the neighborhood, and eventually it won't be a slum
anymore.
The millionaire athletes and celebrities who grew up in the inner city
slums have a responsibility to go back and help rebuild that community.
Usually, these millionaires open their own clubs and restaurants in areas so
upscale that only the rich can afford to patronize them on a regular basis.
For the same cost as opening just one of these establishments, they could
start-up a half dozen smaller businesses in the poorer sections of town, and
use a portion of the profits to create a street security force to patrol the area,
which would make it safer for people to shop in and live there.
Starting even one business would provide jobs and affordable goods
and essential services for the people who live there. But moreover, these businesses would attract other businesses and encourage the community
and its people to take pride in themselves and continue building.
Remember, they were not slums when they were built, and they do not
have to remain slums.
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