The Ripple Effect
Yes, it has been quite some time since Bedford’s last post, but it is not because nothing has been happening in Bedford. In fact, I would say it is quite the contrary–everyone has been so busy that they have not had time to stop, reflect and to communicate what has been going on. So, if you will humor me and give me a chance to look back and reflect on what has been happening in Bedford during this post, I promise you will see some posts in the very near future communicating the specific events and efforts going on.
When Horizons began over a year ago in Bedford, it was like a giant boulder being dropped in our very small quiet pond. Before Horizons hit, the surface of our pond was stagnant and below the surface lay dangerous debris. Along the edge of the pond, there were people waiting and whispering among themselves. After Horizons hit, big waves were created almost immediately; some of the underwater debris was destroyed or moved aside and it created such a commotion that it got a lot of people talking–to each other.
Bedford was ready and waiting for something–no, anything to happen. Community members joined study circles and began to communicate with each other; in addition, they started talking to each other in new and different ways. Immediately, these community members discovered they shared so much in common, had the same concerns, same visions and were ready to do something about it.
The Action Groups that followed the study circles really created the big waves and changes in Bedford. Other community members came to share in the same visions and to make things happen. From these study circles, three action groups were formed and really laid the foundation for what has continued to happen in Bedford. One study circle created a business and service directory, a Bedford Brochure and welcome baskets to make new families feel welcome in our community. The second action group worked to merge three entities that were once the core of Bedford but recently had no directors and barely enough volunteers to keep the groups running. This action group sought the help of the City Council, the existing leadership in these entities and merged the Bedford Area Economic Development Center, Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Program into one strong organization (Bedford Area Development Center) and filled it with a common director and assistant (both of whom were Horizons leaders or participants). The third action group had a long term goal in mind and continues to work to bring state-of-the art communications and internet to Bedford to enhance economic development.
These action groups (waves) along with leadership training and community visioning meetings have created a more welcoming pond that a lot of community members are wanting to jump into; they want to get wet and keep the ripples moving along the surface of the pond. If fact, that has been one of the most unanticipated surprises/benefits of Horizons. Even community members who have not been involved with Horizons or, perhaps only minimally involved, are also standing at the edge of the pond and throwing stones or pebbles in the pond to create waves and ripples too.
As we move through the final phases of Horizons, the Bedford Community is looking forward to the future with renewed hope and anticipation. Bedford has at its core a strong organization (Bedford Area Development Center) filled with Horizons’ trained leaders and strong committees filled with enthusiastic volunteers; it has a new city council who advocated strongly for Horizons and its principles. It has people who not only care about each other, but have remembered to talk to each other and to bring others into the conversations. It is a community that is finally starting the journey to become strong again and, in turn, begin to help all facets and groups within the community to become strong again too.
So what is really happening? Keep watching for upcoming posts.