One of the biggest problems of the modern world is that, thanks to our society’s hyperconnectivity, everyone is fighting a big fight.
- A lot of people lose sleep over the pollution in the oceans with little regard for the pollution in their own ponds.
- They worry about the union strike on another continent when the factory in their town is shutting down.
- People lose sleep over general elections without even being able to name their own mayor accurately.
The truth is that there’s so much you can do locally, and while we don’t discourage trying to do some good globally, it might be a better idea to start small and scale up.
With that in mind, here are a few innovative ideas for supporting your local community. We hope this list will be your call to action.
1. Engage in civic participation
The first thing you need to do is review all your civic participation options. This is the most direct way to get involved with the local community.
This way, you’re working in the field, making a difference, and seeing the immediate result of your labor. You can clean the local park, volunteer at the local educational event, or participate in any kind of group effort within the local community.
Seeing the immediate results is a huge serotonin boost, which will keep you interested and engaged in making a difference in the future, as well.
Also, mingling with local people who have the same affection for the local community is not to be taken for granted. Due to the hyperconnected world that we live in, we often lose the sense of community. You sometimes forget that your neighbor, who votes for the other party, has more in common with you than someone living half a world away (even though you share the same political stances).
Their kids go to the same school as yours, you sit on the same bench in the park, and they commute down the same streets. Online, none of these things seem to matter, but people from across the world lack the intrinsic motivation to affect any of these things.
If they share the same commute route, you have a mutual interest of wanting to have that pothole filed as soon as possible. Chances are that you’ll take your car to the same mechanic afterward if it’s not.
2. Shopping locally
By buying locally and from local brands, you’re benefiting the local community in more ways than just one. First of all, the money stays within the community, which means more money in circulation and higher purchasing power in the local economy.
This means the creation of more jobs, but it also means making your local businesses more competitive, so that the outsiders have to take you seriously. Just think about it: if local businesses are strong, then a new company rolling into town has to try extra hard to win over local consumers.
Of course, you want the local businesses to be as strong as possible for completely different reasons. While you’re not doing so to get more leverage or earn a few more bargaining chips, the truth is that this is a nice bonus. It’s a hidden reward for doing the right thing.
Shopping locally also means that you’re getting your goods from a vendor who can be held accountable to the local community. Sure, everyone is subject to the law, but have fun trying to get justice from a company with headquarters on another continent, in a region with jurisdictions different from yours.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the importance of and impact on the environment. With no long-distance travel and transportation needed, the whole world (and especially the local community) gets to benefit.
3. Support local education
A lot of promising young people leave their hometowns in pursuit of higher education. However, what about people who are going to stay for good? A lot of them never get to go to college, which means that the quality of elementary schools and high schools affects their lives a lot more.
By partnering with schools and local educational institutions, you can raise the overall level of education in the local community, which is a concept that everyone will benefit from.
Still, don’t assume that this story starts or ends with local education. Workshops, courses, and more are just some additional opportunities worth exploring. Most importantly, these are the opportunities that are prone to civic initiative.
Remember that just spreading awareness, making sure that everyone has learning materials, and even stipends for local youth can make a world of difference. Any of these things can have a transformative effect on your community.
4. Initiate a local fundraiser
A lot of people are skeptical about donating to a cause.
Why is this the case?
First of all, they often see the issue as someone else’s problem. Why aren’t all the government agencies or the UN funding this? Why does it come down to the individual citizen? When it comes to matters regarding the local community, it’s clear why – it’s you and your family who are going to benefit from it.
Second, there are so many conspiracy theories and tales of corruption regarding where this money actually ends up. Someone from within a community usually spearheads a local fundraiser. This is someone who people know and trust or at least someone they can hold accountable. Also, they’ll be able to see the results (or the lack thereof).
A lot of people just can’t volunteer. They’re busy with their own work. Well, if they choose to spend their time making money, then solving the local communities with this money just seems a lot more convenient.
You don’t have to donate a lot and hurt your family budget. Even donating just a bit will help.
Wrap up
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way, and you really shouldn’t lack the will to make a difference in your own community. You see, these are issues, problems, and amenities that affect your everyday. These things affect your future progeny and your current quality of life and may even have significance from the standpoint of your ancestors. In other words, this is a fight worth picking.
Photo by Helena Lopes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photograph-of-men-having-conversation-seating-on-chair-1015568/
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