Many people say one person
can’t make a difference. I disagree.
How often have you seen over 2,500 people gather on Greenfield’s Town Common?
When was the last time a local social service agency got an unexpected check for $1,642.13 raised by an event that wasn’t planned as a fundraiser?
Here’s what over 2,500 people heard me say on Jan. 21 at the rally where they put money in donation buckets that turned into a check to New England Learning Center for Women in Transition:
“This is the story of the power of one woman.
Just a few months ago, one woman in Hawaii had an idea for a women’s march on Washington. She planted that seed of an idea in fertile ground. Look what she inspired — over 3 million people in over 600 cities across the globe are taking action because she planted that seed.
I was one of the people who heard about her idea and thought ‘we should have a rally in Greenfield in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington.’
I took that seed of an idea and I planted it in the fertile ground of friends and community, watered it and fed it with support from countless people, shined the light of sun on it, and it grew. It grew into all of us here today — a big glorious plant with many branches, deep roots, much ripe fruit. Each one of us is the fruit on that plant. Inside each of us are the seeds of more action.
Take the seeds inside you, plant them in the fertile ground of community, and nurture them with the support of others. And, if naysayers tell you that one person can’t make a difference, just remember, they tried to bury us but they did not know we were seeds.”
That’s what I said to the hopeful, energetic crowd on Greenfield’s Town Common. Here’s what I say now.
The spirit and size of the rally went far beyond our wildest dreams. Clearly, we need to dream wilder.
Jan. 21 on Greenfield’s Town Common showed us that people are eager to gather with others to express themselves. They brought their signs, hope, and vision to share with everyone.
When someone questions whether big rallies make a difference, here’s what I say: the Greenfield women’s rally has already had many short-term impacts in creating the world we want, including energizing and inspiring thousands of people to take action on local, state, national, and global issues. A result of the rally was providing $1,642.13 to an organization that helps make Franklin County and the North Quabbin region safe. I know of many groups and events that have already grown out of the Greenfield women’s rally.
Since the rally, I’ve received several requests a day from people wanting me to organize more activist events. I encourage the people asking to organize the event they want. I am mentoring several of them. Some join me for discussions at the weekly peace vigil on Saturdays at 11 a.m. on Greenfield’s Town Common.
Greenfield women’s rally participants have sent countless phone calls and letters to elected officials in Massachusetts and Washington, DC. Many have met with elected officials. Some are considering running for office.
The Recorder and GCTV created videos of the rally, which you can view at http://bit.ly/2m9YLS6 and http://bit.ly/2kgG62s.
We’ll never know the full impact of this rally, but it will be felt for years ahead whenever rally participants take action or influence someone else to take action. That’s the power of one woman, magnified.
Mary McClintock lives in Conway and writes a weekly food column, Savoring the Seasons, for The Recorder.