Where's My Community?

     When I first began to get involved in environmentalism, I felt like I was back at my first day at a new school - searching for new friends and groups to cling to. Along with this feeling, it also seemed like few people cared. But why does it feel like this? Is it geography? Isolation? How do we eliminate this, and create more community within this movement?

     To answer that question is hard, but not impossible. To answer, we have to look at the systems and beliefs that make up America. These include: self-reliance, the boot strap mindset, and independence. This was also fostered by the American Revolution. A time where we rebelled, in order to gain a sense of self and independence.

     Another big influence are social factors like-The American Dream, the idea that anyone can achieve the ‘big house and white picket fence’ through sheer perseverance. That mindset in itself promotes individualism, as it keys on a single person being responsible for their future. And that’s true to an extent. But again it comes down to people and the choices they make. As Dr, Seuss says:

     “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

     That's why I want to highlight the community that lies in a simple meal. As for me, it's one of the few times I feel truly connected to people.

     One article states that “Sharing meals with others can bring people together, promote socialization, and foster a sense of belonging. Whether it's a family gathering, a community feast, or a religious celebration, food is often used as a way to mark important events and to bring people together ”.

     It is also something you can never really forget. It might be a bad date, but the meal was memorable. You might get invited to a  potluck with people you don’t know, but there’s good food waiting, and who would pass on good food? There’s a new Vietnamese spot in town, and a Vietnamese person might see that as an opportunity for them to chat up Vietnamese waiters, people who are outside their family unit.

Food is the connector to all these experiences, it is in the stories we write, the cultures we experience, and moments we have with each other.

     It can also do more than that; “food can also serve as a means of economic development, particularly in rural areas where farming and agriculture are common. By supporting local food production and consumption, communities can create jobs and strengthen their local economies.”

It also feeds you! Whether it be for sustenance, activism, it even allows for a sense of community and culture, regardless of closeness.

     This all shows one way we can allow for more community in our country. The more creative we get the more it meets our individualistic needs. Not everyone wants to do community clean ups or food drives, but everyone loves a good meal and conversation. From there, it can be about so much more.

Sources:

https://www.exoticplacestotravel.com/archives/2582

https://www.potluckcatering.org/post/the-importance-of-community-in-food