Authentic Community
Authentic • adjective
- based on facts; accurate or reliable.
- relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.
Community • noun
- group of people living in the same locality and under the same government.
- group of people having common interests.
- sharing, participation, and fellowship; a sense of community.
- society as a whole; the public.
- a group of organisms interacting with one another and with the environment in a specific region.
- the region occupied by a group of interacting organisms.
When we break it down, an “Authentic Community” is a group of people, living in the same locality, and under the same government, interacting with one and other and with the environment in an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposeful and responsible way that is based on accurate and reliable facts.
- Authentic Community cannot be attained passively or by accident. From the core family to the workplace, to the government office, to the town as a whole.
- Authentic Community can only exist if we draw a line in the sand and fight for it.
- Authentic Community requires constant and consistent honesty, it requires an ability to listen, to navigate tough issues with a compass directed at bettering the community.
- Authentic Community requires a commitment to integrity and to honoring what is right – even in the face of what is “easy” or popular.
- Authentic Community requires not just one but many servant leaders. People with an understanding that serving and leading are not mutually exclusive but rather two sides of the same coin. People that understand that truly leading means serving and that serving requires great leadership.
In starting this campaign, I give you my commitment to be an ethical community servant. I did not enter into the decision to run for Erie Mayor lightly and I do not take this commitment lightly.
I give you my word that, if I earn Erie’s vote in the coming election, I will be your servant leader. I commit to honesty, integrity, compassion, and commitment. I will draw the line in the sand with you and we will work to become the Authentic Community Erie should be.
