Freddie Batchelor is one who wears many hats. She is a mother, grandmother, wife, systemic change catalyst, ordained minister, retired public trust officer on the federal level, and a community advocate for many outfits, including housing, health, and education. Batchelor is also a business owner of Enterprise of Destiny company that works with government, profit, and not-for-profit businesses headquartered in Hammond, Indiana on 838 Summer Street. She has 30 plus years of combined education and experience and is firmly against the exploitation of any kind.
A systemic change catalyst is a person who concentrates on the things within the government or any system that is used to exploit individuals. “Not just any individuals. Especially people of color — especially those of African descent — that portray…unfairness,” Batchelor stated.
For instance, many people do not know that the prices of insurance are geared differently in accordance to one’s area. Individuals and families who live in predominantly Black neighborhoods or areas of high crime will pay higher insurance rates. One can truly see the difference if they compare insurance rates individuals or families pay in predominantly white neighborhoods — areas where people of color or African descent barely reside or own property.
“You will find that the price one pays [for insurance] is drastically different than those where Anglo-Saxon — better known as white people [reside].’ It “is much different than areas with people of color, Mexican, or Hispanic,” Batchelor continued. Just because a person lives in an area of high crime or has a different skin color does not mean they should have to pay more for anything.
A systemic change catalyst is also one who analytically examines and points out the inaccuracies and inequities in society. These differences should not exist. There should be more fairness in the system.
Organizations and government agencies have some sort of enforcement group that denotes what should be done. If things are discovered that an entity or company is exploiting or treating people indifferent the enforcement agencies should be involved. The problem is that companies are not utilizing enforcement groups are not being utilized.
The unfortunate part is that the people who are doing a lot of the exploitation do not have an enforcement group instructed to hold them accountable. Most of the time this is because they are wealthy elites. They have invested a lot of money and company time, or they have partnered with government agencies therefore they are able to get away with exploiting others.
Batchelor, like many others, believes that companies must bring about balance by ending this exploitative behavior.
She began fighting for people’s rights when she was a young student at Chicago Vocational High School (CVS). That is when Batchelor began working on a federal government. “At that time the high school was very, very good. It backed people, individuals like myself that desired to move forth in government in careers or even build a track record in government…work,” Batchelor stated.
The high school helped students learn and provided them with employment. “At that time I saw the inadequacies in the government. They placed me in the Veterans Affairs [office] and…the Employment and Training Administration,” Batchelor noted. While working in these facilities she noticed all of the imbalances within the system “and how the curb in regards to…different things was, very much, not even [or] fair.”
These inequities could even be seen in the federal government. “There were not many brown girls like me in many of the places. Really there wasn’t many brown people in these positions with a certain level of proven [abilities],” she stated.
When she witnessed all these injustices she decided she needed to stand up and say something. “This is not right. This is not fair.” She added.
This poses the question: How are people of color going to truly make it if they are never given a fair “shake at being able to obtain [success] that and realize their abilities?”
For these reasons, Batchelor decided to strive towards making a difference and being the difference. She is interested in educating people about what is really going on in our culture and how to utilize the programs and services people need.
According to Batchelor, a lot more needs to be done to ensure equality amongst everyone living in America. There are still great inequities among American citizens of color, especially in government programs that provide assistance with housing and economic services.
Written Sheena Robertson
Source:
Interview: Freddie Batchelor on Feb. 2, 2022
Top, Featured, and 3rd inline Image Courtesy of Freddie Batchelor
1st and 2nd Inline Image Courtesy of TNS Staff
