It’s hard to believe that the BER months are here! As we move into September, October, November, and December, our calendars seem to fill quickly with school activities, community events, fall sports, celebrations, and opportunities to gather with our neighbors.
At the Golden Belt Community Foundation, we believe strong communities are built through relationships. Those relationships don’t happen by accident. They happen when people choose to show up, get involved, and invest in one another. Perhaps the BER months can serve as a simple reminder of what it means to be an engaged member of our community.
Be Engaged
SeptemBER brings awareness to important issues such as suicide prevention and recovery. These observances provide opportunities to learn, listen, and better understand the challenges facing people within our communities. On Sept. 19, Hopefest, hosted by The Center for Counseling at Jack Kilby Square, will provide an opportunity for community members to come together around these important issues. Several activities will also take place at Barton Community College that day. Attending an event may seem like a small thing, but community engagement often starts with simply showing up. When we participate, we learn more about our neighbors, our community, and the organizations working to make a difference.
Build Effective Relationships
OctoBER brings awareness to breast cancer, domestic violence, ADHD, and many other causes that affect individuals and families. On Oct. 3, the Family Crisis Center will host an event at Jack Kilby Square to bring attention to the challenges of domestic violence in our community. These types of events remind us that community building isn’t always about finding the perfect solution. Sometimes, it begins by becoming aware of a need, having a conversation, or connecting someone with an organization that can help. That is how relationships become resources and how communities become stronger.
Support Those Who Invest in Our Communities
With school back in session, fall sports and school-sponsored activities are once again filling our calendars. These events are another chance to get involved. As you attend a football game, volleyball match, school program, concert, or community activity, remember the people behind the scenes. Coaches, teachers, referees, judges, club sponsors, volunteers, parents, and students all contribute countless hours to make these activities possible. Cheer for the students. Encourage the coaches. Thank the volunteers. Give positive support when you can. We don’t have to agree on everything to recognize the value of someone else’s investment in our community.
Small Actions. Bigger Ripples.
One of the things we see throughout the communities served by the GBCF is that small acts of involvement can create much larger impacts. One person gets involved. A relationship develops. An opportunity is created. Someone else becomes encouraged to participate. Before long, what started as one person’s decision to show up becomes a ripple that reaches far beyond the original effort. As we enter the BER months, perhaps we can all challenge ourselves to do a little more.
Be engaged. Build relationships. Encourage others. Support local efforts. Look for opportunities to serve. When more of us participate, our communities become places where people are better connected, organizations are stronger, and individuals have greater opportunities to move forward. At the GBCF, we believe upward mobility is not just about helping individuals get ahead; it is about creating communities where everyone can thrive. And sometimes, creating that kind of community begins with something as simple as showing up.
So, let’s make the most of the BER months. Be present. Be involved. Build relationships. And together, let’s create a stronger ripple throughout our communities.
Jason Murray is the executive director of the Golden Belt Community Foundation.
