Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There are several keys to succeeding at business. One big one is community involvement. The following contributed post is entitled, How Community Involvement Will Benefit Your Small Business.
Community involvement in the form of social responsibilities is a powerful tool that small businesses can use to boost their success. Research shows that 82% of consumers consider corporate social responsibility when investing in a brand. These roles help shape local economies, and your business success will also depend on strong connections with your community. Community involvement is one of the best ways to foster strong connections where your business actively engages with the locals. Here are four ways this step will benefit your small business.
1. Increases employee morale
Believe it or not, tasking your employees with various community projects can boost their morale. While it may sound counterintuitive, some research has proven this point. For example, according to a survey by UnitedHealthcare, 71% of employees feel better about their company when participating in community activities. They reported high job satisfaction when participating in various volunteering and charity work. And this encourages them to be more engaging with work.
2. Attracts local talent
According to some experts, small businesses that play an active role in their communities often attract high-performing and talented local workers. The best talents want to work with the best businesses. And local community involvement will build a positive company image for which the best minds will love to work. The best employees care about who they work for and what image their potential employer promotes. Engage your small business in the community, and the right talent will show up to your doorstep ready to work for you. That means you’ll significantly cut down on how much you spend on scouting and recruitment.
3. Shows your company’s commitment to making a difference
Helping your local community through charity, donations, and volunteering is an excellent way to showcase your company’s commitment to the locals. You can consider partnering with local non-profits, donating a percentage of your sales, or creating special programs to support the less privileged in your community. It tells your local customers and prospects that you’re not all about the money and that you genuinely care about the people. That will help create a strong sense of camaraderie, which will drive sales for your business. The locals will view you as one of their own and become loyal to your brand, allowing you to dominate the local market and ward off competing businesses. Your loyal customers will promote your business to other prospects through word-of-mouth advertising. And this leads to the final point.
4. Generates positive word-of-mouth
Community involvement can also lead to positive word-of-mouth marketing for your small business. When you participate in local events and support local causes, you can easily receive recognition and praise from the community, leading to increased social media mentions, local newspaper reports, positive online reviews, and recommendations from satisfied customers. And with word-of-mouth marketing being one of the most effective forms of advertising, you’ll be able to attract more customers. That’s because more people are likely to trust recommendations from friends and family than to believe in above-the-line marketing and traditional advertising.
Two focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. Some much of your personal life depends on the wellness of the community around you. To create a healthy community can take a lot of planning and coordination. The following contributed post is entitled, 14 Projects That Can Improve The Livability Of Your Town And Community.
Are you looking for simple yet effective ways to make your town – and the lives of its residents – better? The good news is that there are many affordable projects and strategies that you and your community can implement to make your town more livable, safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 14 projects that can be used to improve livability in your local community. Whether it’s community parks, playgrounds, and bike lanes, connecting green spaces, or improving streetscapes, these projects are proven solutions that can help enrich the lives of each resident. So, let’s dive in and explore how each project makes an impact!
Playgrounds and Recreational Areas for Kids
Creating playgrounds and recreational areas in your town can be a great way to encourage healthy activities that children and families can enjoy. Not only do these activities provide physical benefits, but they also offer unmissable opportunities for social interaction, which is also important as kids learn how to engage with others in positive ways.
One of the greatest advantages of these kinds of projects is that the cost of poured-in-place rubber and building playgrounds is low enough for all towns and communities to be able to afford it!
Parks and Green Spaces
Making sure that your town or community has adequate parks, green spaces, and gardens is an essential step in improving livability. By having places of leisure and recreation that allows people to reconnect with nature, residents can relax and take part in outdoor activities such as running and biking.
Clean Streets and Neighborhoods
If you are striving to make your town, neighborhood, or community more livable, it is important to start by establishing a reliable cleaning program. Thanks to regular street cleaning residents can enjoy sidewalks, parks, roads, and alleyways free of dirt and debris. Additionally, individual actions such as picking up trash on a regular basis can promote hygiene and keep the environment more pleasant.
Adequate Street Lighting
Ensuring safe nighttime travel around our towns starts with adequate street lighting. Street lamps, neons, and other lights can improve visibility on roads and in public spaces, making pedestrians feel secure, creating a sense of community, and reducing the likelihood of criminal behavior. Adequate lighting also helps drivers to drive safely at night, which can decrease the risk of accidents and fatalities.
Convenient Parking Lots
Parking lots don’t benefit the cityscape of a community – but neither do thousands of cars parked along the street! If you are looking to improve the viability of your town, consider working towards installing an adequate parking lot that is both out-of-sight and easily accessible.
These parking lots should be large enough to accommodate as many vehicles as needed and located near important destinations. The surface condition should also be well maintained, with painting and signage that are up-to-date and easy to understand.
Accessible Information About Community Services
Making accessible, easy-to-find information about the local community services available is essential for increasing the livability of the town as a whole. This can include connecting people with free food drives and health care programs or finding a reliable daycare center. A great way to improve communication and the sharing of information among all residents is to encourage your local town or neighborhood to establish and maintain an up-to-date website or forum.
Projects To Manage Food Waste
Reducing food waste can be achieved through composting, compost pick-up services, or distributing unavoidable waste to soup kitchens and food charities. There are also opportunities to create marketplaces where people can donate edible surplus produce while providing access to fresh food for those in need. This will not only help reduce your town’s environmental footprint but also protect vulnerable residents from food insecurity.
Gathering Spaces for Families and Older Adults
Creating spaces where families and older adults can come together is an important part of improving a town or community’s livability. This includes parks, playgrounds, retail areas, and other spaces that are open to the public and provide accessibility for members of our towns’ diverse communities. These gathering places could include venues for social events like BBQ areas, market days, fairs, and multi-purpose community rooms.
Improved Mobility, Accessibility, and Public Transportation
Projects focused on eliminating physical barriers in public spaces and providing transportation infrastructure to all members of a community can greatly improve the town’s livability. Examples include installing curb cuts along roadways, increasing access points to sidewalks and pedestrian paths, ensuring public buses are wheelchair accessible or setting up bike lanes connecting key locations within the town or city.
Making a Free Library Available to All
Having access to books and information should be made easier for everyone. Consider installing book collections at public locations so people can return and donate materials from their own homes.
Make sure the selection of available resources is convenient enough for everybody, including young kids and older adults. Offering online catalogs, digital archives, e-books, and movie rentals can make information and entertainment accessible to all regardless of a family’s financial resources.
Establishing Free Art Studios and Exhibitions
Creating publicly available art studios and hosting exhibitions can be a great way to add vibrancy and culture to any town or community. They provide public spaces for artists, offer free events for locals, and create opportunities for creative exchanges between people of all backgrounds.
Organizing Community Activities, Such As Crafts and Dance Classes
Free social activities, such as crafts and dance classes for the youth or elderly can create cohesion among the town’s residents and promote social gatherings. These are a great way for all residents to express creativity and help people become more united through fun, low-cost events.
Planting Trees and Supporting Urban Gardening
Planting trees across your neighborhood or town can improve the levels of livability for residents and visitors. More trees in the area mean fresh air, shade, reduced water runoff, and improved aesthetics. Additionally, you might consider supporting urban gardening to produce organic fruit and vegetables as well as help connect people within the community.
Ultimately, any project that aims to bring more green to your town should be welcomed with open arms: these strategies are inexpensive and immensely effective in boosting the livability of your town.
Improving Street Safety With Smart Regulations
To increase safety in cities and towns, it is essential to create smart regulations that directly address specific street risks. One of these is to adopt the Vision Zero approach, which focuses on implementing measures such as installing more street signs and creating better-lit intersections to make the town’s streets safer and more livable.
If you are not sure what project your town needs, start by taking a hard look at your community, consult your neighbors, and take inspiration from other towns!
I am pleased to announce two new topic areas for the Big Words Blog Site. They are “Letters to The Editor” and “Perspectives on Culture and Society”. The following discussion is the first of many submissions of its kind and was written with the intent of pointing readers and society towards constructive solutions. The authors are Dr. Joan E. Cephas, and Dr. Ralph G. Perrino whose bios and contact information are at the end of the piece.
The views expressed are those of the authors and not the platform itself. As these are potentially sensitive topics, please leave respectful comments if you wish to make your voice heard. Look for a podcast to start soon between the three of us on my Big Discussions76 YouTube channel, where we will discuss this topic and others. Finally please consider joining the Big Words LLC newsletter.
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Varying Perspectives on Current Issues
Our perspective on current issues sometimes differs from those who have come from a different social or economic background than our own. We certainly respect everyone’s view, regardless of their political persuasion. As educators, we believe that the role of a teacher is to orchestrate, administrate, and educate, not indoctrinate. Maybe most importantly, we have always believed (and practiced) that everyone’s view has some validity in the context of their lives.
The Power of Words
In that context, we would like to address the issue of the impact of our words in today’s civic and political discourse. In our divided environment, we continually hear the phrases, “defund the police”, “white privilege”, and “critical race theory”. These are phrases that only serve to divide, not unite, the nation. There is a solution. Simply changing the perspective and the verbiage associated with this issue would go a long way towards lowering the temperature of our public discourse.
Defunding The Police or Resource Reallocation?
“Defunding?” No. Reallocation of resources? Yes. The phrase “defund the police”, although divisive, has merit. Restating the phrase with the term “reallocation of police resources” would go far to lower the divisiveness and confusion that “defund the police” often brings to the discussion. When discussed outside of the anger in which this phrase is often used, there may be some validity to the idea.
Redirecting the role of police in the community amounts to a reallocation of resources, not “defunding” the police. This approach can take on a variety of other forms. Providing police officers with thorough and comprehensive training in the area of domestic disputes can go a long way toward helping them in potentially dangerous situations. Increasing the number of trained police resource officers in public schools is also an area that would assist in defusing violent situations in our schools. These officers develop relationships with students, families, and school personnel, and they can serve as the liaison between the school, families, and the community.
Community Policing, Affordable Housing, and Community Mental Health Services
Another area where this may apply is community policing. This may include police-sponsored programs such as sports teams, clubs, and other activities. Embedding this in a community would go far to create buy-in among adults and children and a sense of togetherness, rather than divisiveness. Policing of this type engenders trust and confidence. Parents and children generally support and are appreciative of these initiatives. Police become role models in this environment. It provides a venue for teaching and learning for the officers and the community. Maybe most important, the idea forms trusting relationships that would decrease misconceptions of law enforcement and communities.
Creating affordable housing that enables police, teachers, and other important role models to reside in a community would also go far to create a sense of unity and cooperation, not division, in that community. Local government can play a critical role in this area by working with landowners, developers, and others to develop economic incentives to embed affordable housing in communities where crime has historically been a problem.
Improving community mental health services can also provide an additional level of support for law enforcement. Sending a mental health professional without police support to a potential crime might place everyone at risk or harm, or even death. Mental health professionals are not trained or armed to protect themselves or the person in crises. They are, however, trained in de-escalation. Mental health professionals who are part of the overall policing process may add an additional level of support to often overtaxed police officers.
Repairing Fractured Police and Community Relationships
Important to this discussion is the fact that a long history of distrust between law enforcement and many minority communities will surely be a significant impediment. This will be no easy task. It will take leadership, perseverance, and patience to create a sense of trust and rapport between what has become often opposing sides of the issue. That said, simply changing the perspective and the verbiage associated with this issue would go a long way toward lowering the temperature of our public discourse.
Discourse Regarding White Privilege
White privilege. Now, there is a phrase that surely has divided the nation. There is little doubt that an economic chasm exists between White, Black, and Hispanic populations in America. Depending on which statistic one examines, the average White family in America has a total net worth six to ten times that of the average Black or Hispanic family. From a purely economic perspective, this disparity is, yes, systemic, persistent, and insidious.
This stems from generations of racial inequality and injustice perpetrated on minorities. This is not an easy thing for many Americans to accept, but it is an unfortunate reality. And, yes, systematic discrimination in the areas of housing, employment, and education has furthered this economic chasm. Overt and subtle discrimination has impacted minorities in America for generations. This needs to change. The problem is the term “White privilege” does not increase the level of awareness it is intended to achieve.
Instead, the phrase “White privilege” only serves to increase resentment. One side – minority citizens use this phrase to challenge the system and accuse the other side of historic wrongdoing. The other side – White citizens are offended by being accused of something for which they believe they were not responsible. It is often used to divide the have and have-nots. If the focus is on race, people will ignore the transgressions of the super wealthy who are predominantly White. These same people hold the power to make economic, social, and political decisions. Using the term White privilege pits the non-wealthy against each other. This allows the wealthy to do whatever is necessary to maintain their position of power and privilege. It is time to cease using the highly divisive term “White privilege” and call it what it is – economic and social inequality.
Age Appropriateness for Discussing Complex Topics
Critical race theory – yet another inflammatory, divisive, counter-productive catch phrase in today’s polarized political environment. The topic of race and ethnic relations has been a primary concern of behavioral scientists for generations. W.E.B. DuBois addressed this topic more than 100 years ago. Academics have studied the topic for generations. This generation of students is multi-racial, and they want to know accurate historical information. It is a legitimate staple of any Introduction to Sociology course on any American college campus.
This topic has historically been introduced at the high school level. Few would argue that, taught by qualified individuals, the topic of race and ethnic relations is an appropriate topic for upper-level high school or college students. Conversely, many are livid that their elementary and middle school children are being “brainwashed” and “indoctrinated” by teachers ill-equipped to manage this delicate topic in their classrooms.
Rather than singling out teachers, administrators, and school board members, we need to take a serious look at how and when this topic is introduced into the curricula of local school systems. Teaching elementary school children tolerance for others is an admirable goal. That should happen in the classroom, and it should be modeled at home before a student arrives in kindergarten.
Instilling guilt in an elementary student for the possible actions of his or her ancestors does little to heal the wrongs of the past. It serves only to confuse a young mind at a time when that very mind is malleable and ill prepared for such intensity. Surely, we can find a way to teach tolerance and history in school and at home without concealing the uncomfortable truth of historical racial injustice, while at the same time not placing the burden of the past on our children’s shoulders.
We must find a way to listen and speak to one another in a civil, calm, rational, informed tone if we are to improve the fabric of our civic culture. Simply changing the words we use to address controversial topics would go far toward reaching that goal.
About the Authors
Joan E. Cephas, Ed.D, LICSW, LCSW
Dr. Joan E. Cephas is a retired social worker and school psychologist from the District of Columbia Public Schools with 22 years of service. Dr. Cephas is the owner of Timing & Associates LLC, which offers mental health/counseling services, behavioral health services, child welfare and educational consultation, parent education, elderly care resources/referral services, critical incident support, and Employee Assistance Program services.
Dr. Cephas has over 30 years of providing child welfare, family, elderly, and mental health services/resources in public and private sectors. Her mission is to empower parents to be advocates for their children, promote academic excellence and success among youth, and to enhance wholeness for individuals, families, and the community. Dr. Cephas has a special interest in empowering African American youth males to become leaders in their home, school, and community. Comments and or questions can be sent to Dr. Cephas at [email protected] .
Ralph G. Perrino, MPA, MA, DA
Dr. Perrino was an educator and business owner in the Northern Virginia area. He taught sociology, political science, and business management at Northern Virginia Community College for thirty-five years. In that capacity, he saw many students in his classes who had either come to the community college because they failed in their first attempt at a four-year institution, or because they chose to defer college until after working or military service.
Many of the students Dr. Perrino taught had also been diagnosed with various learning disabilities that presented challenges and impediments to the learning process. It was for this reason that Dr. Perrino established Northern Virginia Tutoring Service. He recognized a need to provide practical advice and service to students and families who faced a myriad of challenges associated with the education process. Many parents and students benefited from consultations with Dr. Perrino and with the assistance of tutors from Northern Virginia Tutoring Service. Regarding the modern educational landscape, he states:
“The field of education is replete with issues that seem complex, confusing and, at times, intractable to many parents and students. The result is that many parents and students do not know where to find honest, factual information to guide them, or they make decisions without seeking authoritative resources of assistance.”
Dr. Perrino has long been committed to helping students and parents maneuver through these issues. He has always believed that contributing to the welfare of the community is an integral part of business ownership. That is reflected in his considerable involvement in community affairs in Arlington County, VA and Falls Church, VA. Comments and or questions can be sent to Dr. Perrino at [email protected] .
The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. If you’re involved in your city’s urban planning, you want to figure out how to get the most out of your area for your residents and your community. Addressing a few areas can make more community a place everyone will want to move to. The following contributed post is entitled, What Could Enhance Your Local Community.
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When it comes to your local community, you may feel like you have a solid connection with it. It may have been a place that you grew up in, or somewhere that you have grown to love having recently moved into the area. However, is your local community thriving? More people are doing what they can to improve the areas they live, and because of that, it can benefit you in other ways such as an increase in property values. So what can you do to enhance your local community? Here are some of the best ways you can do it.
It is always going to be a good idea to encourage more recreational activities in your local area, and one of the ways you could do that is through opening up a golf course. It could be the type of golf course that has a clubhouse that can hold events, or just simple a recreational space that can be enjoyed by all. This is when you may need the help of experts in Golf Course Building Consultation to help come up with a plan and make sure that things are on the right path. This could be a great way to help encourage more activity in the community and give the local people lots more options.
Make fitness a focus
Fitness is really important for people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but often the worry of costs of gym membership can be too much. So this could be a great opportunity for the community to make fitness more of a focus. This could be easily done through things such as adding free equipment in the parks. They can be easy to install and makes fitness available for the masses. Then there is the introduction of bike lanes and pathways for runners. This encourages more people to feel confident in getting out and enjoying activities like this without the worry of getting in peoples way.
Encourage small businesses to thrive
The heart of the community is the small businesses and the shops that line the high street and the local area, and these are often the things that suffer within the community when things are not going the right way. The way that people can support their community is to shop locally and support the local businesses in the area. This can help them to thrive, and it can also help you to make the most of what you have on your doorstep.
Create local events all can get involved in
Finally, the last thing to consider doing would be to organise local events. This could be ones that have a family focus, or ones that are specific for businesses to get involved in. It brings people together and it can also be the perfect way to boost the economy in the area and make it thrive.
Let’s hope that these tips help you to encourage more people to enhance the local community in different ways.
A key focus of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is current events. Some would argue that as the world is changing, the sense of community is being lost. If that’s so, it’s going to be important to understand how to build communities and pass that information as much as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, What Creates A Community Feeling In Today’s World?
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Communities have always been a significant part of human history. Together, we are stronger, as the saying goes. Communities only exist when people get together. However, while throughout history, communities were created through a natural process to encourage the survival of its people, things have changed dramatically. The days were the population worked together to protect and feed their villages are long gone. Nowadays, you can order everything you need from your preferred online retailer in a matter of a few clicks. As a result, the community spirit is dying out in the western world. Neighbors don’t interact with each other. People help each other so rarely that when they do, their action makes the news. Local businesses suffer against big competitors.
But communities have, nevertheless, a raison d’être, even in modern society. They continue to bring us together around the same goals. More importantly, they give economic and business advantages to the local population. What can we do, today, to rebuild our community feelings?
Each community shares common interests that are related to the specific elements of their local areas. Take, for example, the population of a town. Creating a forum that discusses the infrastructures and local events will appeal to the locals. Even self-government towns that have grown together into a vast concentration of population can tap into their common interests to build their identity. Take, for example, The Villages golf course discussion online; it helps the population to connect. Additionally, the advertising campaign to play free golf for life in the area ensures that the locals take the condition of their golf course very seriously. The bottom line is that once you find the common interest, you can start creating a community of enthusiasts who share knowledge, tips, and stories.
2. Keeping in contact with the audience.
An active community is not only about talking together. People also need to be heard. At a business or municipality level, every project to bring people together on an online platform or through a community center needs to be monitored. Indeed, you have to keep in touch with your audience, making sure they know about the steps your organization takes to protect the community. Email marketing campaigns or direct mailers are excellent ways of informing your community, for instance. Additionally, your communication strategy needs to include a contact email address or phone number to gather relevant feedback.
3. Creating a positive local network.
Last but not least, when a community is defined by its geography – people from the same town or district – it’s essential to encourage the local network of businesses and experts. Ultimately, shopping local is about helping the small and independent businesses to thrive, because every dollar you spend locally goes back to the community. While you can’t get rid of online retailers and other giant competitors, it is in the interest of the community to support the local economy. Indeed, not only does it create a sense of shared values within the population, but it can also lead to the creation of new jobs and wealth for the local area. A community that builds a strong economy stays together.
In conclusion, communities are more relevant than ever, even though our modern lifestyle doesn’t give them a chance to grow. It’s time for businesses and local organizations to invest time and effort into building shared interests, audience, and economic network.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One way to strengthen your business enterprise, is to strengthen its ties with the community. You can do this in numerous ways. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, Give Back and Gain Loyalty: How to Get Your Small Involved in the Local.
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It is common sense to all that small businesses are the economic backbone of our local communities. These small businesses from local accountants, florists, and coffee shops will create new jobs for the community, as well provide the services that the community needs. Many like to shop local to support, so there is still a need for these kinds of businesses. Small businesses play a large role in the country too, with it being reported that over half of citizens work for or own a small business. But as a small business owner, you can really make the most of the community where your business is placed; giving back can boost your business as you gain loyal fans and customers.
If you want to get your small business involved with the local community, then what are the best ways to do just that? Here are some ideas and tips to help. It is a practice that is definitely worth it.
If you are known in the community for your skills, whether that be an account or a hairdresser, then people will come to you with their questions (like tax advice or hairstyles). So being able to establish yourself as a local expert can really be a good idea. Get involved with local groups on www.Facebook.com, go to community events, write for local newspapers or media, and show your expertise in those ways.
• Support Charity
If there are some local charities that are doing great things or that are a cause close to your heart, then why not get involved and support them? It could be something as simple as donating a certain percentage of profits to the organization, or helping to arrange events or fundraisers for the charity. It gets your business name out there and show you’re doing good, as well as those local people within the charity knowing all that you do, and then being more likely to come for you when they need the services of your business.
• Sports Teams
From children’s soccer teams to high school football, sports in the local areas is what helps bring people together. If your business is able to be a part of that, then it can only be a good thing. Think about sponsorship for a sports team perhaps or donating things for where they play, such as display bricks from www.brickmarkers.com, for example. Getting involved in the best way that you see fit can help to expose your business to local people on a regular basis.
• Local Schools
No doubt there is some kind of school in your local community, whether that be a nursery school to a high school. They will always be looking for help with things, as well as donations to fundraisers. If you are a local builder or decorator, for example, you could help the school with a project to clear up the play area or painting the walls. Being seen out there doing good in their local community is such a great thing for a small business to be doing.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Running a business isn’t all about making money in some instances. In some cases it’s important to consider how to better the community that your business is based in. The following contributed post is thus entitled, How to Use Your Business Acumen To Help a Community.
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When it comes to running a business, you feel pretty confident about your abilities. You have several successful projects under your belt so far and you’re ready to add even more to your list. You take running your business extremely seriously, so when you think about a company that could genuinely help other people it makes you pretty excited. You want to use your business knowledge and acumen to help a community and create a truly worthwhile venture for once. Instead of being in it for the money, you’re ready to find new ways to make people in your community feel wanted and included.
Build a New Community Centre
One of the first ways in which you can make a difference in your local area, is by building a brand new community centre or church. Perhaps your village was involved in a natural disaster or the pride and joy of the town was destroyed by vandalism. This is the perfect opportunity to contact a church construction company, Daniels Construction and start a brand new project. Even if there is already a building in place, you can expand and reconstruct the current one in whatever way you wish. No matter what type of budget or time scale you are working to, you know you will be able to get the job done with a team of professionals on hand at all times.
Now that your new commercial building project is underway, you might be able to start thinking about how you can give back. Why not start up a church group and invite the homeless to meet new people a couple of times a week? There are so many ways that you can give back to the people who are less fortunate than you. A soup kitchen or a career support group is also an excellent idea for your new community centre.
Give Troubles Youths a Chance
If you live in an area where you know there are a whole load of troubled teens, then you might just be able to help them out in life. Offer to give those troubled teens a little responsibility, which will allow some structure in their life. Whether they’re helping to make coffee in the church or cleaning up after an event, their parents will be grateful for you reaching out to those who are truly in need of a helping hand.
So if you have been doing some soul searching recently it’s time to start considering all of your options. Nowadays it can be very tricky to start up a business venture that is really going to have a positive impact on the people around you. Whether you’re building a new community church or you’re trying to volunteer locally, there are so many big ways that you can make a difference in your area. Being a business owner isn’t just about earning respect and making money; it’s about helping the people around you and understanding the importance of giving back.
