Keep Going and Keep Growing Community from the Small to US-All
It's special when people can find time and a way to 'get together'. The Cornwall School had a 'Gathering Room' (maybe the extension of the cafeteria or counting that in too..since it is nice to appreciate the social aspects of eating together not just refueling.)
I've often hoped there would be more ways to have some 'person to person' sharing in terms of making announcements, networking (maybe with a clip board available for people to list events with basic details or causes one is raising money for whether a non-profit, a tag sale, a 'personal request' in case there's room for barters or allowing for some 'classified ad type' requests for work or donations (even of items or services for a tag sale, silent auction and so on. )
Cornwall has a huge tag sale that a group of volunteers run annually (that just passed in late July). People save up and help recycle as others do for Habitat for Humanity Tag Sale (which is coming up in early August I imagine.)
Taking a moment of silence could also be appropriate (and perhaps allow people to list concerns on yet another page on the multi-functional clipboard or a separate one..) that could acknowledge the general or more specific 'concerns or support' for someone in a difficult situation, whether sickness or injury or someone passing.
Any kind of conflict should have a 'community response' with basic guidance to help someone look online or call 211.org or ideally see what local and other resources might be of use, whether WSS (364-1080 for business matters or 364-1900 for counseling support for abuse concerns). With my blog www.livfully.org there are many ideas to consider locally and online, with supports and follow-through. I would welcome help with 'that little project' as well which has been something I've encouraged for a few decades, more intentionally as the need became more clear and reasonable to promote publicly.
The balance of good times with more advocacy for everyone to feel connected in a neighborly, team-player way makes sense in small towns. There are many laws being written 'as we speak' so 'just reporting concerns' to authorities may not be in people's best interests. We have seen how our country had to allow 2000 migrant children be taken from their parents and not treated with affection as in being held or touched to comfort them, even young children.
Of course, to prevent abuse, that may have been 'a necessary guideline' but our most citizens have had their eyes opened to a more common reality that once children are 'taken from their protective parent' there is little others can do to advocate for them.
The systems may have different levels of accountability to the public so not all people working in them may really know what the 'process and end results' are for some or even most involved.
We'll 'get back to the music' and enjoy community in many ways in our small towns and tri-corner area..but more people willing to think through 'the tough stuff' and prevent the 'fairly predictable' downward spirals of despair, fear, danger, anger and conflict, recklessness and so on, would be a good project to explore as well, voluntarily and with compassion for all involved.
Most students could use a support team to set up their rooms, wardrobes, sporting and music and other hobby plans and funds, rides and meals, back up support and much more to really make the most of their grade school and high school and even college years. Going it alone makes the journey much less likely to proceed with success, and often can create too much stress to work through challenges.
Even getting good study habits in place, having support for keeping up in the first few months and each quarter of the school years would be great with a study buddy in each class, study groups with adult supervision in an appropriate, ideally public place, and so on.
That would mean parents and other supportive adults for all parents (with little ones on up) getting ready to Network, maybe working from existing groups at libraries, faith groups and recreation clubs and sports and seeking to invite others in that grade or age group along, and maybe have some mixed age gatherings... just for gals, and just for guys for starters to see how it goes. Girls can now join Boy Scouts..and most adults can join either Girl or Boy Scouts of 4H...but why not start 'spin off groups' for each grade level (and age group for infants and even expectant parents on up?)
The Acorns to Oaks Team Outreach (A-2020) that I've promoted for many years spoke to this kind of 'bridging the gaps and even the generations' to help everyone feel counted and included. Working with an eye toward wisdom, kindness, health, talent and friendship it would seem 'we shall overcome' the barriers any person or group is facing.
Some challenges are just part of life and also call for that kind of larger support networking. With everyone needing to earn a living or keep up with their busy lives and dreams, carving out time and ways to achieve the above may seem like 'it's too much.'
But I think it would be a good investment and more recruiting efforts for each town to have a growing vibrant diverse population would also help boost people's spirits, resources, and help secure the future of the towns, ideally with good workers, volunteers, students and activists and plenty of retired folks and others enjoying life along the way (hopefully with chances for all to do so also, especially over many years.)
Post new comment