"It takes a Village"

“It takes a whole village to raise our children. It takes a whole village to raise our child. We all everyone must share our burden. We all everyone will share the joy.” African Proverb

A perfect example of community, this African Proverb not only talks about the strength of a village, but the education of the children in this village. In a community, everyone needs to work their hardest to get through the struggles and find the joy. The proverb also says that everyone has to deal with the consequences of the community’s behavior, whether they are good or bad. Also in a community, all members should be focused on the education of the children. It takes more than the child’s parents to help them grow and learn. The others in the village, teachers, other students, elders, become responsible for the social interactions that play a huge part in the child’s life.

Block states “Community well-being simply has to do with the quality of the relationships, the cohesion that exists among its citizens”(page 17). The relationships between all of the members of the community play a large role on the overall outcome of the community. The members of the village must all work together in raising the children to follow in their footsteps.

Another important part of the community is the change or transformation that has to be made in order to be successful. In years past, the word change made people anxious, and nervous about the future. Many would rather stay stuck in their comfort zones then step out of the box for the first time alone. Instead of being leaders, people would first watch, then do. Change seemed crazy, when everything else was fine as it was.

Change now in 2008, is the tagline for the Presidential Election. As Americans, everyone seems to be jumping on the change bandwagon and daring to be different. Both candidates, Obama & McCain, have very different ideas and ways to carry out these ideas, but agree that the United States as well as the World needs to change. The priorities of the United States have changed in just the past four years requiring a change of mind and a change of power. The overall transformation of the United States will take a while, but if smaller governments all work together with the “greater good” in mind, willing to take risks and make mistakes on the way, transformation is possible.

A word that used to be looked down upon has itself, changed or transformed. Now change is looked at in a new light and welcomed with open arms in the community. Muhatma Ghandi says, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” In order for communities to change for the better, members must want the change, and be willing to change themselves first. The village must be willing to accept the burden before they are rewarded with the joy.