The Same People Can’t Keep Doing Everything

I spend a lot of time talking about what our communities need, what needs to change and what we can do better.

Today, I want to talk about the people who are already doing the work.

My Community Warriors.

The people who show up.

You attend the meetings. Pick up the trash. Check on your neighbors. Volunteer at the school. Testify at hearings. Organize your building or block. Mentor young people. Feed people. Share information. Support small businesses. Make phone calls. Send emails. Ask uncomfortable questions. Speak up when something isn’t right.

And a whole lot of you do it without a paycheck, a fancy title, an award or even a thank you.

So, from The Advoc8te to all of you:

Thank you for your service.

I mean that.

Because communities don’t magically become stronger, safer, cleaner, more connected or more equitable. People make that happen.

And here’s something else I want people to understand:

You don’t have to wake up one morning and decide to become a “community advocate.”

I certainly didn’t.

My Story Started With a Dog

Seriously.

I started by fostering a dog named Teddy.

That foster dog would eventually become my beloved companion for more than 15 years.

And Teddy needed walks.

So we walked.

While walking him through my new and lovely neighborhood, I started paying attention. I noticed things that could use a little care. I met my neighbors. I talked to people. I started learning more about the community around me — what people loved about it, what frustrated them and what they wanted to see change.

So I started attending meetings.

Then I started getting more involved.

And eventually, I started a little blog called Congress Heights on the Rise.

There was no master plan.

I didn’t foster Teddy thinking, You know what? This dog is going to turn me into The Advoc8te.

😂

One thing simply led to another.

A dog led to walks.
The walks led to neighbors.
The neighbors led to community.
The community led to meetings.
The meetings led to action.
And the action eventually led to CHotR.

Nearly two decades later, I’m still here.

And that is why I want to ask those of you who aren’t involved in your community:

What’s stopping you?

I’m genuinely asking.

Is it time?

Do you not know where to start?

Are you waiting for someone to invite you?

Do you think you don’t have a useful skill?

Do you think community service requires hours and hours every week?

Or do you look around and assume somebody else will take care of it?

Because here’s the thing:

There is no “somebody else.”

We are the somebody.

“The community” isn’t an abstract thing. It’s you. It’s me. It’s the person down the hall. It’s the business owner around the corner. It’s the parent at the playground. It’s the senior who’s lived on your block for 40 years. It’s the new neighbor who moved in last month.

And strong communities cannot depend on the same handful of exhausted people doing everything.

We need more people willing to do something.

Not everything.

Something.

Give an hour.

Attend one meeting.

Pick up the trash on your block.

Check on a neighbor.

Volunteer at an event.

Mentor one young person.

Support a local business.

Share information.

Make an introduction.

Write an email.

Ask a question.

Show up.

Your contribution doesn’t have to be huge to matter.

And you have absolutely no idea where that first little act might take you.

Trust me.

Mine started with a dog walk.

So, to everyone already doing the work — my Community Warriors — I see you, I appreciate you and I thank you.

And to everyone else, I have two questions:

What’s stopping you?

And perhaps more importantly:

What would help you get started?

Tell me in the comments.

Because maybe we can help each other figure that part out.

After all, that’s kind of the whole point of community.

— The Advoc8te