Blog question week 6
Looking back: I have learned even more patience than I thought I could ever have. It proves that good things take time; and slowly, people are starting to see that this initiative is going to stay around and is actually making positive change. I have also learned to encourage the best in each person I deal with, even if they are not able to see that side of themselves (yet!).
My participation: It has definitely changed me. I have been active in community development projects for over 16 years and I am just now finding out what it really takes to make a difference. I am finally able to use my accumulated knowledge and experience to assist and empower people to invest themselves in their future.
Community change: Things are really beginning to happen in the Riggins area. There has been a change in morale. Optimism now is everywhere. We have a used bus to use for transporting those who need it to services and supplies and a grant for a brand new bus to take them out of town and beyond as well. We have a newly lighted basketball court so the youth have a place to play and visit that is well lit at night. We have received a five year grant to continue our after school program which is a necessary program for youth and a valuable resource base for families. The community sees that there are people who care and have the resources to accomplish things that have only been talked about before.
I truly believe that Horizon, the people and the program, have made a major difference in life in the Salmon River Canyon ( and I am in a position to make that judgment).
The Blogging experience: This is a great idea; to share information in a format that can be shared with other communities and with the funders and administrators. The concept is valuable but the tools are inadequate. I finally found the time to put all the information together and to navigate the site and I don’t even know if this will be “published” correctly. As far as finding the time to look at the other blogs, that takes way too much time for me and for many others. The difficulty factor keeps us from becoming familiar enough to be able to fit this into all the rest of the things we have to do in our lives.