Why changing the world begins at home
If America is a galaxy of constellations, then San Francisco is my world. Even within my 7x7 orbit, there are an endless number of ideas, inventions, and challenges waiting to be solved. Yet, whenever I talk about “local” issues, the word engenders feelings of smallness, simplicity, and for many people, boredom.
Why?
Maybe because it’s more enthralling to live on the world wide web. It’s easier to understand our evolving, complex identities as social media profiles. Maybe it feels more authentic to maintain our reputation through status updates, rather than conversations, and verify our credibility with a checkmark. It makes a lot of sense to evaluate our ambitions based on the number of followers, likes, and views. How else would we measure our self-worth? The internet, it seems, is a far more interesting, infinite place, and we can live in it without ever having to leave the couch.
Digital technology has made it too easy to forget the world around us. And while the land of virtual transactions isn’t the only problem, it isn’t the ultimate solution either. We no longer pay attention to the people who thanklessly make our neighborhoods hum. We neglect the growing troubles on our doorstep: wealth inequality, homelessness, crumbling education systems, irresponsibly presuming someone else is going to take care of them. Worst of all, we fail to realize the profound impact we could have if we only paid attention to our surroundings.
It’s not just a matter of semantics. The path to global impact begins at the local level.
Take John Bela, Blaine Merker, and Matthew Passmore. In 2005, they transformed unused parking spaces into miniature parks. They invented the first parklet in the Mission District and now cities all around the world celebrate PARK(ing) Day to encourage residents to reimagine public space.
Consider 27-year-old mayor Michael Tubbs. He’s implementing universal basic income in Stockton, CA and giving away $500/month to low-income families to address middle-class unemployment and the spread of automation. Elected leaders all across the US are watching him and what’s happening in Stockton.
How about Tyler Ruzich, Jack Bergeson, Aaron Coleman, Joseph Tutera, Ethan Randleas and Dominici Scavuzzo? The six teenage boys who are individually running against Sam Brownback to be the next Governor of Kansas? Who else will they inspire by challenging the political status quo?
Time will determine how these initiatives are remembered, but they’re a meaningful start.
Research has validated that cities and suburbs are hubs for innovation. Local solutions have the potential to spread and affect millions of people in far flung countries, even more rapidly because of technology, but revolutions requires awareness. If we want to have a positive impact on the world, let’s not lose sight of what’s happening to the world right in front of us. The place we call home.
P.S. I think about the future of local a lot at By The Bay. I’m also a member of Global Shapers-SF.
