There are precious few commitments in life that hold our resolve for years at a time. We live in an age of unprecedented career-hopping, college major-changing, and city-relocating, all in search of the perfect setup — a meaningful life. On average, people spend a little over 4 years in a given job before moving on. So, what has kept Ryan Lampa, founder of People Loving Nashville, on the same career path for 13 years? Lampa gathered a group of friends together one Thanksgiving to provide food for the hungry in Nashville. And they haven’t missed a single Monday since. For Lampa, the path from concerned citizen to nonprofit leader was not linear or planned. He was, in his words, “having too much fun” and feared that shifting his focus to helping the less fortunate in his city would require him to become a “martyr” of sorts. He was a tour and production manager, spending a great deal of time on the road with the likes of Christian and Gospel musician, Toby Mac. He had no intention of transitioning to humanitarian work, but a series of conversations with two homeless Vietnam veterans changed his perspective on what helping people really means. The men were camped on the porch of an abandoned house across the street from Lampa’s home. When he got up the courage to talk to them, he was surprised at their friendliness. After getting to know them for a few weeks, Lampa was moved to do more. But to his surprise, offering money in exchange for food receipts earned him a door slam in the face and a total loss of contact. Weeks passed before one of the men returned to explain that he did not want pity or hollow charity. A small sum of cash and parental scrutiny would not solve his homelessness, mental illness, or addiction. He just wanted a real friend. “It was because I got to know them that I changed. I didn’t have to change for them; they changed me without even trying.” That same year, Lampa brought together the community that would become People Loving Nashville. A Powerful Ecosystem As a committed Christian, Lampa adopted the words of Jesus, “I was a stranger and you invited me in,” as the core of his personal ethos. It guides how he approaches loving his city to this day, but befriending people on the streets made him rethink who “the stranger” really is. “We are much more foreign to a homeless person’s doorstep. When we go to them, they are welcoming us.” Before the PLN team ever started serving, they shared a table. They took time to eat together and discuss what they were learning. Intentional acts of communal kindness were forging deeper connections with people on the streets but also with each other. The lines between the person in need and the person filling a need evaporate when friendship is the focus. It is the heart and soul of People Loving Nashville. It’s all about relationships where everybody is welcoming everybody. “That’s what has sustained this thing for so long: it’s a real community with people who are actually friends.” The relationships don’t stop with individuals; they extend to other organizations as well. PLN often collaborates with organizations doing meaningful work in Nashville, not confining their service opportunities to meal distribution on Mondays. They prioritize both interpersonal and inter-organizational relationships. Aside from accountability to their board, they are not subjected to restrictive oversight. They don’t receive government funding. They have flexibility to meet needs as they arise without unnecessary red tape getting in the way. When needs such as natural disasters or community traumas arise, PLN is often one of the first on the scene. They jump at every chance to help, no matter where it comes from. And because of their friendships with other organizations, they are able to help in a myriad of ways. “When [we see] opportunity, we’re going to go straight to it,” says Lampa. Taking Responsibility As Nashville grows in size and population, more land is being developed for neighborhoods and businesses to occupy. But expansion comes at a cost. People living on the streets are left with fewer and fewer options when searching for a place to lay their heads at night. Neighborhood residents complain about them, tent communities are closed down, and even the shelters are forced to turn people away for lack of resources. “We’re taking away more and more opportunities for people just to exist. Our city is moving towards eliminating places for people to live, and if we take this away from them, we have to offer something else.” Lampa says legislators’ responses to the issue have been to make it illegal for homeless individuals to occupy various areas of the city. Legislation like this creates the illusion of progress for local constituents, but it doesn’t actually account for the wellbeing of every Nashville citizen. The ones without homes go ignored. Lampa acknowledges the reality of serious problems, but he has devoted the last thirteen years of his life to formulating and mobilizing hands-on solutions. His encouragement: use the resources you have, and don’t wait until you feel totally prepared. There are plenty of organizations providing opportunities to help. All we need to do is find one and jump in. Most of us wouldn’t ignore a friend or family member if they needed help. In Lampa’s eyes, loving his city is loving his friends. If you were to ask him what’s kept him in a career for this long, he might say that he’s just showing up for the people he cares about. Wouldn’t most of us do the same?
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