LOOK TO THE HORIZON FOR LEADERSHIP AND WITH HOPE

“I came, I saw, I learned and it was good!” These are comments recently made by a person who was in town, but had not been here for over 20 years. They could not believe what they saw and heard from people. This was not the town they left. The town looks different, it feels better and they were not talking about the buildings! The community feels different and it feels like a better community! People are acting like they are more like good neighbors should be. They never ever thought this was possible in this community in their viewpoint. And if you step back from your everyday existence and take a good look around at things, it is clear as to why this comment was made. And this is not the first time I have heard this comment said. Things really are different. Things are better than they used to be. However, if your head has been in the sand too long, you may not realize this is true.

Recently, some good questions were presented to a regional news outlet. The comments were never published or reported, but they were said just the same. “Why does a town the size of Wagner have so many gas stations? How can a town this size have two grocery stores and three national chain stores existing so close together. How is it possible there are two health care hospitals, two grocery stores, several gas stations, one of the best schools in the entire state and so much more? Why is the daily traffic so much? Just try to cross the street during the morning hours! Just look at all of the license plates that pass through town! They are from everywhere you can imagine. What is it about Wagner, this reservation area and why Wagner? What makes Wagner so different from other South Dakota communities when so many rural towns are struggling to just stay relevant and existent?" While the regional media likes to focus on the negative things that occur more than the positive, the questions still remain: Why Wagner? What makes it so different from everywhere else?

Although there are many reasons for the community's success, one thing stands out as a major reason. It is our diversity! Diversity plays a major role in this community's success! Most people really understand and appreciate this fact. Appreciating diversity and understanding the importance of working together is what builds a better community. You cannot have a successful community if you remain separated and pulling in different directions. A community that will come together as one is a major goal of the Wagner Area Horizons. Horizons has been at the center of several cooperative ideas throughout the past several years and it continues to focus on building a better community, even if it takes building one relationship at a time to make it happen. The Wagner Area Horizons is interested in building partnerships with those who understand the importance and value of diversity. Working towards inclusiveness, understanding, sharing and creativity is key to long term success for everyone, regardless of your background. The organization is alwayslookingforcommunitysupporting ideas that involve inclusion and cooperation by all of those who want to see a better tomorrow. An example of this is the partnerships that were formed with area organizations and businesses to bring more diverse activities and entertainment to the Festival in the Park over the Labor Day weekend. Diverse programing brings a more diverse audience. Different ages, different interests and different cultural backgrounds, all being together, in one place, at one time. All working together as one, not separate as in our unfortunate past. Horizons is offering to help bring people together, to help us all feel a little closer together, to help us feel like a community should feel. Even if sometimes it only feels like it is for a short time.

Not too long ago, I asked a community leader, “Why do you think things seem better than they used to be?” The response was, “Maybe we are finally figuring it out that we all need each other!” My thoughts were, “What a great observation!” I also thought, “Yes we still have people fighting to hold on to something that needed changing, but there are many more who want the fighting to end and for us all to have a better life when it does." When thinking about our differences another respected community leader has commented to me, “We need to remember, if you have met one Indian, you have met only one Indian. And when youhavemetonewhiteman,you have only met one white man.” Either meeting could be good, bad or indifferent! How we want to proceed after that meeting should never be predetermined. Judge each meeting separately, fairly and with a good heart in mind. Regardless, we should never be guilty of painting an entire group of people with the paint from one, regardless of who is doing the painting. As recently shared with me, “Here is anecdotal evidence of a community gone good, not bad.” Of course we have much more to do, but the road looks good and well paved for the future. On those days when the road looks a little bumpy, we can always remind ourselves how important it is to be members of a good community in good standing with the larger human community.

The Wagner Area Horizons is paying attention to these wise comments and encouraging us all to be a little kinder, friendlier, more helpful, more courageous in facing our fears and wiser in the process. As the title infers, “look to the horizon for leadership and with hope.” This does not mean gaze off into the sunset, but rather seek a new dawn for all of us. When you hear the name “Wagner Area Horizons” look to the organization to continue to work to help make hope into a daily reality for everyone in our community.