Inspire Action · Brad Carter

Observations, Ideas & Reflections on Leadership from eSwatini

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Without Community…

February 5, 2009

In the January 2009 “Neighborhood Network,” the newsletter for Connecting Caring Communities, there is a picture of Millard and Linda Fuller at a work site in Shreveport (posted a few days ago on this blog).  Beneath it is this quote from Millard:

You can build houses, but if you don’t build community it will fall apart.

Millard noted several times in his visit to Abilene that when he started Habitat for Humanity they intentionally chose the word “habitat” and not “houses.” Houses implies simply a structure where someone might live. “Habitat,” however, implies that there is more to living that the physical structure. From the beginning, they knew that to change the world and change lives took more than building houses, it took building community.

That’s why Millard naturally fit with the community renewal vision at Connecting Caring Communities and Community Renewal International. That’s why dozens of families, many evacuees from Katrina, now have new homes in the Higher Ground project in Shreveport.

He knew– as we all do when we stop and think– that life is more than the stuff. He also said at our Sweet Evening event: “He who has the most stuff wins,’ that isn’t true. He who has the most friends wins.”

Relationships cannot be taken for granted. Too often they are. But without community, everything falls apart.

Filed Under: Church, Community renewal, Neighborhood, Nonprofits Tagged With: community, Connecting Caring Communities, Fuller Center for Housing, housing, Millard Fuller, relationships

Email from a neighbor

December 28, 2008

I received this email from a neighbor yesterday…they didn’t know I had begun blogging. It’s a comment about my wish (previous post) and the others in the paper. I thought I’d share it with you…

I realize your job requires you to be more insightful concerning relationships and their importance…but I was disturbed that so many thought another restaurant or entertainment would answer all of Abilene’s problems.  I believe Abilene is a wonderful place to live, but not because everything is convenient that we desire….  The people make it wonderful.  Neighbors knowing neighbors and families spending time together rather than just spending money would cut crime and make everyone take greater responsibility for making this an even better place to live.  It is no wonder that the deprived children in underdeveloped countries are happier than our children.
I do love Abilene and its people.
Thank you for your wisdom  and approach to building better communities.
I agree with this emailer! People, not stuff, are important.
What say you?

Filed Under: Community renewal, Neighborhood Tagged With: Abilene, Abilene Reporter-News, neighbor, relationships

My African Education

I’m blogging about leadership, learning, and life from the Kingdom of eSwatini. Reflecting from my cross-cultural work in Christian higher education at African Christian College and entrepreneurial efforts like UKWAZI Makadamia and the Locavore Farmers Market.

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