Hub Happenings in the Milan / Berlin / Gorham Region

Sometimes, community building can feel overwhelming. Observing our communities, the dire needs alongside the diversity of belief systems and ideologies, it really can feel like there’s no way to find a seat at the table for everybody. Yet, a key tenet of the work we do at The Community Builders Hub is to look beyond the all too obvious challenges and find the strength, opportunities, and abundance that we do possess. This year’s work in the Milan Village School is an amazing example of drawing upon a community’s spirit of generosity and belonging.

Every Monday I join Kari Goulet’s sixth grade class to work on their Community Service Learning Project. This is the second year that I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside students as they brainstorm, plan, and execute projects aimed at bolstering Milan Village. This year an emphasis was placed on looking outside of the immediate school community to see how the students might address what they saw as challenges in the wider community. Three groups will be working towards three different projects. One group is dedicated to making sure that all veteran gravesites in the Milan cemetery have a flag holder in place to commemorate their service on Memorial Day. Another group is working with the town’s selectboard to see how they might enhance the town’s ice skating rink. A third group is planning the second annual dinner for senior citizens which will be completely free.

The beauty of these projects is not the anticipated end results, but rather, witnessing the generosity of spirit, inclusivity, and dedication of these students as they work within their project groups. In working on the ice-skating rink, the kids are defining what it means to be a steward and have a voice in their communities for the greater good. They’re thinking about the comfort of folks that use the rink, as well as ways to preserve and care for a community asset. In working towards getting flag-holders for veterans, I saw a determination that not one person be overlooked in honoring our local veterans. When observing that some flag holders are prohibitively expensive, one student said that he would make every single holder by hand if necessary while his group echoed that sentiment. In planning a dinner for community members, again and again, the group draws my attention back to inclusivity. They insist on providing a variety of choices so that folks can enjoy a dinner that fits their dietary needs. Beyond planning a bake sale, several members of the group have brought in their allowances, babysitting money, and items from home to provide for the event.

It’s all too easy to observe our communities and see what could be better, what we lack, and what we need. All too often we’re stymied by these circumstances, thinking that maybe it’s too big a dream, too much time, effort, or money. In those moments, I would challenge us to think about this group of kids that (very literally) will not take no for an answer, who dream big, and knock down barriers as though they don’t exist at all. As one student put it, “Some things are for me, but this is for my community and I’m going to show up for it.” Me too, kid.