Community is more than a buzzword. Although often overused in campaign platitudes and marketing copy, we realize the real-life importance of “community” most during times of natural disaster, political strife and personal suffering. A community may involve family members, friends, neighbors, or in this digital age, even strangers who live far away.
As is the case with the LA fires this month, a community quickly coalesced and took action. People in nearby suburbs and across California, including here in the Tri-Cities, joined forces with folks who evacuated, providing shelter or donations, or offering help finding other resources. Local chefs, some of whom saw their restaurants engulfed in flames, offered food for evacuees and first responders, with help from World Central Kitchen—seemingly always one of the first organizations on the scene of a catastrophe when they’re needed.
It’s this kind of grassroots coalition that’s able to help in real time, while traumatized and heartbroken folks wait for various government entities to assist.
And it’s the loss of community that we feel most when we are forced to flee our home, as is the case with people evacuating from the fire zone or refugees seeking asylum or immigrants leaving behind family members in search of better opportunities for their children. The reality is that we are all one disaster away from experiencing homelessness. And those who become unhoused struggle to find their center without community support.
It’s communities, or groups of people with shared purpose, who demand improvements and change laws. Communities who act in accordance with the notion that we are all connected, that we are stronger when we unite in service of a greater good, and that when we help each other, we help ourselves.
It will take time, resilience, determination and yes, community to help rebuild the devastation.
