So, whose job is it to build community and communities?

Lots of answers and one answer -- all of us.

But, now let's go to the lots of answers option. This noon while having a sandwich I was perusing the CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY, and in the 'New Books' column was a review of "Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives." This book is by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek and published by Josey-Bass. The paragraph in the review that caught my attention for this blog posting is: "Rather than being driven by the opportunity to create an innovative enterprise, a life entrepreneur is driven by the chance to create a life of significance."

In Hartsville, everyday, I work with and come in contact with people who have this drive in life. The book itself apparently describes 55 stories of people who are giving back in their communities in innovative, constructive and positive ways. Minutes ago a woman left my office who was sharing her passion of developing a children's park in a convenient, accessible place within the Hartsville community. She has a vision for a park that would be accessible to all children that would allow those who don't always have a place to play a place where they can be part of the fun with all the children. She has done a great deal of research and is bring a passion to make it happen despite not having any personal stake. Her whole reason for the hours she i8s spending is summarized in "It needs to be done!"

There is another person who is involved in a wide variety of happenings within the Hartsville community. He is a one-person liaison to several areas of the community that do not always have people at the table. He often is at the table. He is nearly always there to do his part of the work. A retired military man, he has been back in his (this) community working to make a better community for everyone and your can make that EVERYONE. Blogs are not supposed to be long, so I will stop with two examples and just remark that those who have had successful lives in younger days and want to enrich the next part of their lives can choose active involvement in the community and often find great satisfaction in this new role.

Richard Harwood of The Harwood Institute talks about the public good and as the book reviewer in the CHRONICLE quotes authors Gergen and Vanourek, "It is no longer enough to work for a pyacheck; there is a growing belief that a good life requires work in pursuit of something meaningful and lasting."

So, we get back to the question of whose job is it to help build a community. Maybe it is someone like you, who understands there is a need to work for a public good.