Restoring Belief in the "Power of One"
A unifying theme in our work is engaging (for the first time) or re-engaging the diverse range of individuals who live, learn, and work in the Great Basin in the public life of their communities. We believe that one of the greatest deficits in our country is that more and more people are opting out or being left out of the democratic process, and not exercising their voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Toward that end, we work to restore belief in the “power of one” to make a difference.
Until recently, Nevada has not had to come to terms with the diversity of its land and people. The state is experiencing rapid growth and population change. If these changes are not dealt with in a meaningful, compassionate manner, we run the risk of further separating people along the lines of culture, class, and age.
We work with local governments, coalitions, and public service bodies to create a community that will prize all of its citizens. We define communities widely, from those who live in a common place, to those who organize around a common goal, as well as learning communities of all ages. This often dictates how we work with them. Our strategy is to listen, to take a pulse on their reactions to the issues with which they are struggling, and to work toward consensus and a common vision for what it means to be a member of the community. We facilitate the process of change and provide the training required to make and measure the desired change. In this way, we try to affect lasting change at the local level, while building consensus on these issues for the larger region and state.
We began as a volunteer organization. We have resisted the idea that we are a “social service” agency, but rather a community and youth development agency. It was this strategy of linking volunteerism with personal responsibility that shaped how we responded to various social problems. This also addressed the bigger issue of getting people involved in solving their own problems, at both personal and community levels.
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At the core of this conviction are a handful of beliefs that inform our work: all people have essential dignity; as a basic requirement of being alive all people on the globe must have food, shelter, clothing, safety, and literacy; the world must live in peace; and that these issues must be addressed locally.