Creating Community

Creating a community is a state of mind. We are microcosms of the greater macrocosm. We all contribute to each other one day at a time. Sometimes we as individuals become complacent and need a catalyst to kick things up a notch, both as individuals and a community.

You may have seen this video on the TV news, but I recently found it on You Tube. It’s a wonderful creative response from a city for the people of that city put too music, to celebrate themselves as a community. The catalyst was:

“This video was created as an official response to the Newsweek article calling Grand Rapids a "dying city." We disagreed strongly, and wanted to create a video that encompasses the passion and energy we all feel is growing exponentially, in this great city. - Rob Bliss, Director & Executive Producer”

I say ‘hats off to you’ for such a unique communal celebration. It’s a lip-dub of 5000 citizens singing and dancing through the streets of Grand Rapids to Don McLean’s "American Pie". The viewing on You Tube is over four million strong to date. It seems they are not alone in their celebration. As I surfed through You Tube some more, I found another great lip-dub celebrating a city. This time it was from Mount Pleasant, MI. I can only speculate that the Grand Rapids video may have inspired the more recent video from Mount Pleasant. Both are great and both are recent from Michigan. Coincidence? I think that the community feeling is contagious. These people will not be overlooked and pigeonholed. Good for them. Please review the following videos, both a celebration.

Grand Rapids, MI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPjjZCO67WI

Mount Pleasant, MI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y__hFL_YdcQ

As I continued my search, I thought I’d keep it local…the greater Boston area. There were a number of them to view, but I chose the following three from local schools…two colleges and the high school from our neighboring town. All three are full of fun and life, as they commemorate their lives, communities and schools. Singing and dancing in the streets seems to be the way to go!

Suffolk University, Boston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75XPEq6aH4k

Sharon HS, Sharon MA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqVDEbOB3Ug                   

Emerson College, Boston/ Kasteel Well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0-ef9sLYg8

What have you got to sing about? Share it and see what happens!

Cathy