The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead’s town manager.
Times are changing and there will be new people coming to Mt. Gilead to visit, play, work and live … if we let them.
There’s a new trend called “Zoom towns.” The folks behind the organization Save Our Towns said the convergence of several factors led to these Zoom towns:
- a pandemic that forced a major adoption of remote work
- pent up demand for rural, small town living
- improving rural broadband
- the great resignation and re-evaluation of life choices
- climate and disasters shifting relocation decisions
- increased rural tourism through the boom in road trips.
I agree, and also think that people are eager to BELONG. With more people relocating, we should expect an increase in people working to create a sense of place, a deliberate building of community and, hopefully, reaching across polarizing divides. In Mt. Gilead we’re just getting started, but we need to watch for projects that are specific to enhancing our neighborhoods: making them safer, cleaner, more beautiful – and ultimately a place you’re excited to belong to and there is a demand for.
I was chided last week by a resident who said I have spent too much time listening to people and their complaints. I took their statement as implying that, “All people want to do is complain and not be part of the solution.” I disagree. I am so hopeful about the future of Mt. Gilead because I have listened and learned. I believe that people (residents and business owners) want to be part of the solutions: to clean up, to beautify, to invest, to make a real impact within the community. I believe there will be less of an emphasis on joining boards or committees to talk about change and more emphasis on joining activities you enjoy to take action for making a positive change.
I would suggest that we come together as a town, to play together and work together, to build community. We need to stop assuming. We need to give grace and be willing to accept grace. To put aside personal wants and desires deferring to the other. Seek balance and compromise on issues and opportunities.
Be on the lookout for opportunities to impact Mt. Gilead. There are going to be cleanup days, planting days, fun days for art, food and music. Let’s come together to transform Mt. Gilead. Change is here and the future beckons: You be the change you want to see.