As we enter the portal of a new year, many of us take on the hope of new beginnings, and make determinations, commitments, and vows to engage in new activities, to make personal changes, and to renew things we lost track of as last year drew down. This renewal of our annual cycle provides each and all of us the opportunity to extend and stretch ourselves in novel ways. Each new year provides hope and energy for the future, in spite of, or because of, the challenges, breakdowns, and breakthroughs of the past. It is this way as we shift from 2022 to 2023; it has always been so.
Bridging the global with the local, we exist in our communities in one significant way: because of the volunteers who serve and support our neighbors. Of course, those who work and reside in our small city engage in building and supporting our infrastructure at every level. This is a necessary and requisite element of our lives. Beyond those who work for wages (or salary), there are what I call the “Silent Heroes” in our city — in every city, every place — who serve simply for the benefit of all, without any remuneration whatsoever. Our volunteers offer their service(s) to our community, otherwise known as “community service.” We could not exist in the way we do without those who perform these critical and essential volunteer services. They (we) are the angels in our midst, doing their good deeds day in and day out, evenings, weekends, and holidays, 365/7/24.
One does not have to have a big job or impressive title — mayor, councilor, chief, and so forth — in order to do good, to offer themselves to our community. In fact, it is so often those without these titles, job benefits, and power-brokering, who make the biggest difference. These are our silent and unsung heroes — they don’t often win awards, their photos and bios rarely appear in the news media, their egos are not to be seen or found. In a small city like Greenfield, one without a large tax-base or significant wealth, our volunteers and community service folk are often the gold standard by which we can afford to provide services, programs, and opportunities for those with the greatest needs.
But there are so, so many ways, on so many levels, to become involved, to get engaged. Even attending a singular meeting of a committee or commission or civically minded group (via Zoom in the comfort of home, for most, but not all, of us) is a form of service to our community. Showing ourselves, speaking, listening, questioning, taking action — all are ways to be of service to our community. All matter, as we all matter. So many of us do not have time to offer hours weekly, that should be understood and accepted with kindness. The world is hard that way.
But the opportunity to make ourselves known is our power, our strength. Of course, this happens at the ballot box, and we’ve seen how that works and can make a difference. We’ll have that opportunity again late next year to inform who will govern and lead our city for the next three years.
If we see engagement as important, then we can find our way in. There is room for all of us, and those who are so deeply involved in creating fairness and equity and space and safety in Greenfield want diverse voices in the mix of making a difference. New voices, young voices, inexperienced voices, voices of age and wisdom and concern — even of fear — and those desiring change. We need you to find your way in to inform and make the changes that must be made in every way, especially with regard to our governance, safety, security, and sense of hope moving forward. All of community service matters, and we, the people can make and be the community we wish to see and have.
It’s soon to be a new year. Consider, if you can and will, finding your way into community service in the coming year. Let it be small, and let it be OK. Small is beautiful, and anything beats the vacancy of nothing. In doing so, we speak truth to power, we become steady and steadfast, and we can learn that others are with us, even when we are silent and confused and angry and hurt. Be part of a solution to bring greater positivity into our city. The journey of a thousand steps can only begin by taking the first step. Each of us can do this in our own way, without judgment or comparison. There is no one in our community who needs to or should ever suffer alone.
Community service offers a step in; it is a step toward building and bridging what we need above and beyond what those whose work is mandated can offer. In serving others, we benefit ourselves and our families and loved ones. We all need the help and support that we can offer to one another. As the age-old adage goes, “what goes around, comes around.” This year, in some small yet mighty way, seek to serve. Doing so will matter, your voice will matter — and you will matter. Make a difference in the year to come!
Daniel Cantor Yalowitz is a local author, activist, and community change agent. He cooks at Stone Soup Café, volunteers at Just Roots CSA, serves on numerous local and national boards, works as an international trainer/consultant, plays grandpa to two precious little joys, and is the former chairman of the Greenfield Human Rights Commission. Write to him at danielcyalowitz@gmail.com.