Rich Harwood just published his regular weekly blog and he is talking about four ideas for President Obama's State of of the Union speech that will be Wednesday night. Rich talks about the importance of real people in real communities who are right now are wanting to feel authentic Hope. He is talking about how the President might be able to ignite some of that hope.
Right here in Hartsville, SC, we are looking for that same Hope that Rich refers to when he references places like Detroit and Lansing, places he has held recent Public Innovator workshops. There are many community builders in Hartsville who know how important hope is to our community. One thing we have been able to preserve in our community is some authentic hope.
1) We have had a recent city election and a new, young Mayor has been elected and he has a goal of pulling Hartsville together. When you talk to Mayor Pennington he will tell you that his campaign changed him. When he announced his candidacy it was because he wanted to be mayor of this small city. While running for office he learned on a daily basis how much people in this small community both need help and need focus for their community concerns. He is working to connect the people to the way things are done so that things will get accomplished.
2) Early last week the Chamber of Commerce held a meeting with a great many real estate agents in Hartsville as part of their effort for carrying forward the Selling Hartsville campaign. To have that many people taking time to learn even more about the community than they already know shows the resources we have available for change.
3) Last Thursday the Chamber held their annual dinner and again it was evident the support in this small city for moving forward. The banquet was well attended. Gordon McBride, a person who has been working for decades to help make Hartsville an ever better city, was named Rotary Citizen of the Year. Gordon has worked with all areas to continue improving the community and he is an outstanding example of why we can and do have hope for continuing to make Hartsville an even greater place to live.
People are working with people in Hartsville. Is there more that we can do? Is there more that we must do to bring this community together? The answer there is a resounding YES. Can we bring about the changes needed? We have people who know about the importance of planning and putting forth stretch goals. We have people who have worked the plans they have developed who have experience in making good things happen. We can make positive change come alive. We also understand that this will only happen with people connecting with people.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Muhuru Bay, Kenya Collaboration in action
My daughter, a community psychologist, is currently working on a specific community building project in Muruhu Bay, Kenya. Last summer she set up a research project to identify some of the key issues and she is now working with community groups, especially churches, to come up with programs that may lead to some ways of stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS among young girls. This post includes her most recent blog about this effort. She is working with the Duke Global Health Initiative in the WISER program, which just opened a school for girls in Muhuru Bay.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Community Building Resources in unlikely places
Mitch Albom is on fire as an author and his newest best seller is titled have a little faith - a true story(sic). Honestly, this was the last place I thought I would be getting thoughts on community building. But, I encountered a pleasant and interesting surprise as I read this book about the rekindling of faith, much of it about the author's meetings over the past eight years with his "Reb."p
Toward the end of the book (a quick read of less than a day) there is a discussion about a special reunion-honor service for Rabbi Albert Lewis, who had led his congregation for six decades. The Rabbi and the author, whom the Rabbi had asked to do the eulogy at his funeral, were discussing the turnout and celebration. I am going to quote part of what he wrote so you read what I mean about community-building thinking; This quote begins on page 223: " "I tell you," the Reb said, shaking his head as if in disbelief, there were people who hadn't seen one another in years. "And when I saw them hugging and kissing like such long lost friends -- I cried, I cried. To see what we had created together. It is something incredible."
"Incredible? My old Temple? That small place of Sabbath mornings and funny holidays and kids hopping out of cars and running into religious school? Incredible? The word seemed too lofty. But when the Reb pushed his hands together, almost prayer-like, and whispered, "Mitch, don't you see? We have made a community," and I considered his aging face, his slumped shoulders, the sixty years he had devoted tirelessly to teaching, listening, trying to make us better people, well, given the way the world is going, maybe incredible is the right description." (223-224)
Rabbi Al stayed with his Temple for more than sixty years. Rabbi Al was a leader with a vision and energy, and caring and compassion and knowledge and more -- portraying many of those traits and characteristics we need if we are going to build effective communities.
Even for those who have a problem with "faith" this is a good read. In fact, it might be those of us with that problem who will get the most from what feels to me like a very practical book for today's world.
Toward the end of the book (a quick read of less than a day) there is a discussion about a special reunion-honor service for Rabbi Albert Lewis, who had led his congregation for six decades. The Rabbi and the author, whom the Rabbi had asked to do the eulogy at his funeral, were discussing the turnout and celebration. I am going to quote part of what he wrote so you read what I mean about community-building thinking; This quote begins on page 223: " "I tell you," the Reb said, shaking his head as if in disbelief, there were people who hadn't seen one another in years. "And when I saw them hugging and kissing like such long lost friends -- I cried, I cried. To see what we had created together. It is something incredible."
"Incredible? My old Temple? That small place of Sabbath mornings and funny holidays and kids hopping out of cars and running into religious school? Incredible? The word seemed too lofty. But when the Reb pushed his hands together, almost prayer-like, and whispered, "Mitch, don't you see? We have made a community," and I considered his aging face, his slumped shoulders, the sixty years he had devoted tirelessly to teaching, listening, trying to make us better people, well, given the way the world is going, maybe incredible is the right description." (223-224)
Rabbi Al stayed with his Temple for more than sixty years. Rabbi Al was a leader with a vision and energy, and caring and compassion and knowledge and more -- portraying many of those traits and characteristics we need if we are going to build effective communities.
Even for those who have a problem with "faith" this is a good read. In fact, it might be those of us with that problem who will get the most from what feels to me like a very practical book for today's world.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Judi Elvington -- Imagination, Execution & Service
Judi Elvington officially retired from her position as Executive Director of the Hartsville Downtown Development Association as we began this new year. She served in her job for 19 years and during her time we saw some great things happen to downtown Hartsville. She was in her job as the downtown was totally revisioned. She worked hard to make many of those things happen and was an active member of the team that helped Hartsville win the All America City designation in 1996. Judi provided years of service that were filled with really good ideas and strong execution and to this day we talk about the importance of downtown to the GROWTH of this community. Here is a blurb about the retirement party that was held for Judi on Thursday evening from the "Our Hartsville" (Jana Longfellow) write up:
Our Hartsville
Hartsville Downtown Development Association honored Judi Elvington tonight(Thursday, January 14) at BCAC for her 19 years of service to the downtown businesses, and the community at large.
Several presentations were made, including the South Carolina Downtown Development Association, The City of Hartsville, and the HDDA Board of Directors.
The following article published in November highlights her career and the awards she helped to win in Hartsville.
http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/article/elvington_to_retire_in_december/87985/
Location: Black Creek Arts Center 116 W. College Avenue, Hartsville
Judi is one of many people who the community has called on to lead our community. One of the strengths of this city is the willingness of many people to step out and accept the challenges of change and growth for our small, cosmopolitan city. We need these leaders.
Our Hartsville
Hartsville Downtown Development Association honored Judi Elvington tonight(Thursday, January 14) at BCAC for her 19 years of service to the downtown businesses, and the community at large.
Several presentations were made, including the South Carolina Downtown Development Association, The City of Hartsville, and the HDDA Board of Directors.
The following article published in November highlights her career and the awards she helped to win in Hartsville.
http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/article/elvington_to_retire_in_december/87985/
Location: Black Creek Arts Center 116 W. College Avenue, Hartsville
Judi is one of many people who the community has called on to lead our community. One of the strengths of this city is the willingness of many people to step out and accept the challenges of change and growth for our small, cosmopolitan city. We need these leaders.
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