View from the community pathway on Lake Kittamaqundi, Columbia, MD
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“Think carefully about where you choose to live and work. Then commit to improving whatever community you do live in.” - The Start-Up of You – Reid Hoffman.
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At "An Evening of Howard County Storytelling: Sharing Stories for a Stronger Community,” Anna is describing her community map. Her hands and arms are in constant motion as she describes her community.
“Here is our house, up here is the tot lot, here is the grocery store, here is the path to the ball field, over here is our school, here are our best friends, and here are the community mailboxes.”
Anna smiles and cajoles us, “Draw your map, what does you community look like?”
Anna finds comfort in her community map. The map is a visual connect-the-dots of her life and community. Anna also finds excitement in the continuing expansion of her map.
The next day at a workshop, I strike up a conversation with the gentlemen to my left. John tells me he is taking a trip to Mississippi.
“Really?” I respond, “My parents grew up in Mississippi.”
John’s eye widen, “No kidding, I grew up in Mississippi?
My eyes widen, “My parents are from Vicksburg.”
“Oh yeah, I grew up in the Delta - Ruleville.”
I ask, “How did you get here?”
I was working in Jackson [Mississippi], and I got a job offer in Baltimore. I fell in love with Columbia”
Nodding, I reply, “After World War II my Dad went to Mississippi State on the GI bill. He bought a house in Howard County and worked at Westinghouse for 39 years.”
John and I shared a few more minutes of Howard County and Mississippi memories and exchanged contact information.
Afterwards, I thought of Anna’s waving arms. John and I connected-the-dots and our community map expanded.
How about you? What is on and who is in your community map? When did you connect-the-dots?
Join me and 10 other storytellers at the next Evening of Howard County Storytelling: Sharing Stories for a Stronger Community, hosted by The Howard County Conservancy on April 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant. Come and expand your community map!
