A community is the confluence of people, ideas, activities, the spirituality, nurturing, and sharing. The neighborhood is just geography. You can live in a neighborhood and NOT be in any of its communities. A neighborhood can have more than one community.
A community is defined by its participants. Its governance comes from the collected and collective visions of its members. Individuals decide to be a part of a community or not. Community has a ‘we’ component. It is made up of like-minded, supportive people typically centered around agreed upon visions and goals.
Communities are open and welcoming. You ‘get in where you fit in’ (or you keep it moving!). You see people doing things for the good of the community or being in service to the community.
The communities I join and participate in engage in the philosophy of UBUNTU. Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term meaning "humanity". It is sometimes translated as "I am because we are", "I am because you are", or "humanity towards others".
Tell Me Something Good!
“Georgie, you got a new bicycle for your birthday. Now, clean up your old bike. Make it shine and run like a brand new bike.” Mom didn’t have to tell me twice. I liked taking things apart and putting them back together.
“Can I spray-paint it? Paint brushes leave streaks and look lumpy.” I let the the candy apple red paint dry for two days before putting the bike back together. I let the chain and other greasy parts soak in kerosene. When I got home from school, I changed my clothes, did my homework, and put it back together. I added some flame decals I had. My old bike was looking sharp!
“Yesterday was Ricky Frederick’s birthday; go take it to him. Tell him ‘Happy Birthday’ and if anything goes wrong with it, that you will fix it.” Ricky just turned five and I was already a month into my eighth year.
Looking back; that’s how we rolled in Saratoga Terrace. We were brought up to be a community. My Mother taught me to pay attention to the people, young and old, in your community. All the Mothers and Fathers taught us Ubuntu. “Humanity Towards others”.
Asé
Peace & Blessings,
”Guided by the Ancestors”