Doing the Positive

A few months ago, I got a call from a SCORE client. We had met at a public event maybe 4 years ago. We struck up a conversation and then met over lunch a few weeks later. She was an inveterate international traveler and wondered if she could build that activity into a business. A travel tour business with a twist.  Recently retired, she planned trips to Africa and the Far East. I asked her what her interest was in those regions. Other than personal curiosity, she did mention an interest in learning how living conditions in the regions were different from ours in America and what could be done about improving target areas.

That led to a discussion of critical needs in some large regions. Africa continues its struggle to find and deliver potable water to millions of people scattered over a huge territory. Same is true for sewage collection and treatment. I mentioned to her that her travels could be theme oriented and target specific problems and potential solutions. Seeing problems firsthand makes them very real. Building interest groups to champion solutions may be a good objective for her travels. Follow up could then be networked with similar organizations and government agencies to deliver solutions to chosen communities. Perhaps her interest group could ‘adopt’ a community and work to build reliable, clean water supplies for that community. When done, adopt another community or help the first community solve another pressing problem such as sanitation services and facilities. Or building health clinics.

Years later, this same client returned for more discussion. This time she reported on her efforts to address the harmful effects of trauma suffered through racism. Although her primary interest is in African Americans, she wants to include Latinx, Asians and Native Americans. All have experienced discrimination that causes trauma. All have created their own personal defense mechanisms, but the trauma remains and needs attention.

Her approach to do that is beautiful, large, and expansive. She is allied with groups of similar interests, and they are moving ahead to provide needed services to individuals in need of help. We recently completed a strategic planning process and are working out many details to bring her programs and institution to fulfillment. We are all excited at the prospects!

I mention this because this client is an example of people taking positive action to ease the path for others. This is not simple charity. This is complex understanding of deep issues in need of complex solutions. She and her colleagues are undeterred. They face a welter of work and complications. But they are determined to make their ideas work in the real world.

I applaud them. I celebrate their willingness to get involved. I treasure being a small part of helping them. We need more people like this to take action and find commitment.

Complaining about things is only a small beginning of a larger process. Defining, delineating and articulating problems is another step. Focusing on a target population to help is another step. Researching what needs to be done and how to do it is much more complicated, but a necessary step. Getting down to the actual work comes next. And then the outcomes.

Positive outcomes come from positive actions. Caring about others is one of those actions. Leaving it to government is too slow.

March 25, 2022