A Call to Action
In previous articles, I explored the topic of the importance of building a healthy community. In my last blog post, “If it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to be a village”, I explored what it would take to be a village. It is a common expression and belief that it takes a village to raise a child. Since this is true, we are calling the community to take the next logical step. It’s time to go from slogan to movement. “If it takes a village, be the village”. We are calling out all “woke” people and organizations, to take collective responsibility to be the village. No one is going to save us but us. Since it takes a village, be the village.
BeTheVillageOHIO
On 02/02/2020, a group of committed community builders came together to launch the campaign “BeTheVillageOHIO”. ArkBuilders, Inc. is proud to be a founding member of this movement to build healthier communities in Franklin County and globally.
What is BeTheVillageOHIO?
BeTheVillageOHIO is a collective effort that strengthens communities by creating partnerships between individuals, families, and organizations that create a positive impact in the areas of prevention and wellness. We are doing this by creating a platform that promotes community wellness. It is a call to action to be the village, based on principals of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
I recently attended a summit on the state of the community. One of the facilitator discussion questions was, “How can we strengthen the community and what hinderances to healthy, vibrant communities?” My contribution to the discussion was I feel we try to answer these questions on a macro-level when we should focus on a micro-level. By concentrating on the macro view, we tend not to develop the individual or communities of need. The macro view historically keeps the power in the hands of the ruling classes. Their goal is to create efficient systems where individuals are cogs of the machine. In contrast, the micro view of community development concentrates on individuals, neighborhoods, and communities.
A fellow participant, a brilliant young lady from Kenya, shared the wisdom of the micro approach to building strong and healthy communities. She said, in her country, society is constructed from the extended family, the tribe, and the nation. The development of the individual is best done in a loving community. We are created to be social, to care for one another, to build up each other. To protect and develop the individual for the common good.
ALERT: Cover your children’s ears! There is no Santa Claus, no one coming down your chimney bearing gifts. Do you remember how it felt when you realized there was no Santa Claus? Did you feel betrayed? Did your world feel a little less magical? Sorry kids, your presents came from the sacrificial efforts of your parents/loved ones. Our communities will be built by the same sacrificial effort of its members. And while I’m on the subject, we don’t need a Superman or Superwoman to come and save us. The village has everything within it to build healthy individuals and thriving communities.
How Do We Be the Village?
One of our youth leaders, Michael B., used the phrase, “Don’t just talk about it, be about it.” Our communities have grown wary of slogans and jargons. Everybody can talk a good game, but its time to be about it. So, what should we be about? Let’s start with the basics and together we can develop the platform. Be present, be mindful, be active, be loving, be caring, be humble. Give yourself to the healing of our communities. The village is not outside of you, but the village is in you and among you. The village is what we make it. The platform for BeTheVillageOHIO invites all people of goodwill and determination to be the village.
In coming months, we will develop on these topics, through writing and activities that build a platform for wellness. The underlying principals of all we do are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
For more details on BeTheVillageOhio, visit their website here.
