My first blog!
Well here I am trying something new, hope it works out. I have been reading some of the blogs and find them to be very interesting! I do think this is a good way to communicate with others concerned about their communities. In an area where we are isolated geographically it is easy to get to feeling like you are alone. I think the Horizons project has been very beneficial in bringing people together to discuss what poverty looks like in our communities. We as a community are getting to know each other and learning to work together. In the Leadership Plenty sessions and our Roundtable discussions people were able to express themselves through the various exercises and role playing. Trust was beginning to show among the participants as we explored the topic of poverty in our communities, it was an interesting experience and not always easy.
Personally I chose to live and raise our family in a small rural community, not realizing at the time how few jobs there were. My husband and I are from a large metropolitan area and we left the high prices and taxes behind. It hasn’t been easy and it was a big change from where I grew up. However the friendly people and small town felt like a “safe” place to grow. Our children got a good education and I was involved in the schools. For secondary education they chose from University of Idaho, Lewiston State College and North Idaho College, all three institutions within an hour and a half from our home. Now our children are grown and I have time to dedicate to my community. As a whole there is a lot of poverty here and it is difficult at times for me to accept it. I suppose that is why I became interested in the Horizons project, to see what can be done about the poverty here. Living in poverty can be a state of mind and certainly challenges one to rise above it at times. On the plus side, there are unlimited possibilities to what one can do to improve the current state of poverty in rural Idaho. With creativity and ingenuity the possibities are endless!
I see changes happening in the community; more outsiders moving in bringing new perspectives, the resource based economy is changing as the logging and mining industry is declining. There are more entrepreneurial businesses being started as people try to create livihoods. I see positive changes happening as a result of the Horizons project; with the visioning rally came a vision! We as a community are looking ahead and planning what we want for our communities. There is a lot going on with the Action Teams that have formed since Horizons began and we as a community are moving ahead. We have a Communications committee, an Entrepreneurial Development committee, a Community Pride committee and a Community Structure (building) committee. We are in the process of forming a non-profit to further the projects that have been identified, such as a community center, and possibly refurbishing the train depoe. I am optimistic about the future of our communities as we continue to seek out new avenues for improving our quality of life. Our work has just began but if we can continue to get more people involved and make progress I feel our efforts will blossom.
Scavenger Hunt Question: Which community (in partnership with ComBAT (Community Based Access to Technology) will be having a FREE concert on April 23, 2008?
And the answer is: Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation in Plummer.
joanneo
April 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Joanne,
Nice job! I always appreciate your writing and you did such a good job on this.
Last night at the Entrepreneurial Workshop offered by Horizons in Plummer, I learned a lot and got even a greater vision for what could happen with people who are interested in staying in their small communities in spite of the “lack of work.” People who are willing to take a big step and “make it happen” –that is create work by starting their own small business–can make a huge difference in our area. With the resources the Idaho Small Business Development Center has to offer, there is a good chance of success, and, as the presenter said, when you start creating job opportunities in your community there is something there for your children to stay for rather than them wanting to travel off to Seattle or somewhere to find work.
It IS exciting!