A lot of people pooh-pooh tweeting. But, the leaders we’ve followed on Twitter are out there making changes. Some in big ways…some small…but all succeeding in “being” service.
Over the past several months we’ve followed SEGlet, Farmland, Urbangardens, hyperlocavore, TheCityFarmer, AnarchyGarden, and UrbanFarming — as urban farming/gardening resources. It’s been newurbanhabitat, and fallenfruit for information on mobile and free food. While naemhomelessness, hominc, PSCtweets, homeaidamerica, chtrust, vermonthousing, and willamettenhs have been constant resources on housing and homelessness. Then, ShareableDesign, ShareTompkins, and closestcloset have been community sharing resources. We are consistently inspired by the things we see each week.
So, what about it? Easy enough to list folks and say thanks, but what have we done with all this inspiration, learning and direction? Well, we’ve hinted a lot over the past few weeks that we’ve begun collaborating on a community food plan. It’s got multiple parties and partnerships. It involves farmers, businesses that support farmers, a university, and cities, along with social and non-profit organizations. It includes community members, and importantly, a bunch of kids! It’s about food security, nutrition, mobile food support, food mapping, housing, community kitchen-ing, and food-selling.
It seems our work in housing policy and preserving people’s homes has naturally evolved into preserving people’s health in those homes. And, sometimes, just when you think something can’t be done, someone gives you something for free! Or introduces you to the perfect person. Or a link crosses your (computer screen) path.
The spirit of collaboration and service has privileged us to work in communities on issues outside of food security, too. We’ve become fiscal sponsors to Action Kivu (@actionkivu), in their efforts to help victims of sexual violence in Eastern Congo, and Play it Forward Nashville (@PlayItFwd), as they help Nashville residents recover from May’s flood damage.
How can we best be of service? This is the question we all need to ask ourselves.
The answer: You have to become service. Be a resource, not just provide one. That’s what our friends we follow are.
So, this Friday, a different take on our follow Friday props. But still the same ending: Thank you!
home&community inc 