Op-Ed by Bill Bradley: 'Meetups' Inspire A Return To Community Throughout America, World
'Meetups' Inspire A Return To Community Throughout America, World
People across the globe have a great opportunity to start or join a community to share ideals and interests and create friends.
By Bill Bradley
For 40 years, I have traveled around the country and listened to the stories Americans tell about their lives. I was always moved. Often people felt most intensely about family and community. They tried to make the world a better place by giving back to those around them and by joining with others who had common interests. These community groups have always formed the foundation of American citizenship from the days of Alexis de Tocqueville in the 19th century to today.
When I was growing up, it was easier to be a part of a community because we knew our neighbors. Local events were well-attended. Today, that is less the case and the volume of information being directed at people has grown to a point where personal interaction has been replaced too often by virtual interaction. But no technology can replace the power of personal interaction. I've learned that a city with vibrant neighborhoods and engaged citizens is a better city.
Ask yourself how much you have in common with your neighbors. How often do you spend time sharing your hobbies with others or pursuing something you're truly passionate about? Americans are getting together locally to support each other, learn something new, and create personal and professional connections. Ironically, one of the catalysts for this rise in local community involvement is the use of online tools and technology for adults to find local groups nearby, dubbed “Meetups,” in which real people meet offline to connect with like-minded people.
People across the globe have a great opportunity to start or join a community to share ideals and interests and create friends. Communities are being formed in diverse areas, such as stay-at-home moms, breast-cancer survivors, political affiliations, aspiring investors, parents of autistic children, Bible study groups, animal lovers, artists, politicians, environmentalists and sports fans. Worldwide, nearly 3 million people are a part of Meetups on nearly 5,000 different interests.
Our country is experiencing many changes and challenges. We are seeking our 21st-century identity as a nation, and what role we should play in the world. Every citizen plays a part within a local community in how to define America.
Connecting locally with others about what's important to you, or what you aspire to do, or what you're really good at, strengthens our sense of community, and the value of strong, active community ties unites America. So, let's all meetup.
Former Sen. Bill Bradley served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997 and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2000.
Published in:
The Day, New London, CT
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS