Chapter 19 - The People in the Program
The first meeting of the resident council took place in a borrowed classroom, not beneath chandeliers. Folding chairs formed a circle. Jada sat in one of them, without a microphone.
Salma wanted open budgets. Luis wanted a clear appeal process. Imani wanted contracts that guaranteed access to tools and named the person responsible when equipment broke.
"And nobody sells our names to sponsors without permission," Nia said.
Jada wrote that down.
The proposal gave residents representation on programming decisions, public criteria for selection, and a review process independent of the development office. The trustees adopted it after counsel confirmed the changes could fit within the charter.
Not everyone returned. One original winner chose a different fellowship and accepted compensation for documented relocation costs. An alternate was offered that open slot from the jury's ranked list, with the person's consent. Nobody was simply inserted because a donor paid.
Min returned to deliver lunch for the group. She set out sandwiches and fruit, then handed Jada a receipt.
"Everything's paid," Min said. "My staff got the money. That's what matters."
"I am sorry for what I did to your cake."
"I know. Don't do it again."
"I won't."
Eleanor walked slowly into the classroom with her cane. She had insisted on attending just this one meeting. She listened while Theo described the new studio inventory system, then placed a box of old clay tools on the table.
"These were my husband's," she said. "He'd have liked knowing they were used, not displayed."
Theo opened the box. Beneath the tools lay a small photograph of Eleanor and Jada standing outside the abandoned barns seven years earlier, surrounded by weeds.
On the back Eleanor had written: A place is only worth saving if people can belong there.
May you like
Then Jada's phone buzzed with the final auditor's report. Martin had transferred another account nobody knew existed.
