Grassroots: Where all change begins

"Grassroots" is a term that is used a lot, but I always wonder if people truly know what it means. Answers.com gives us the official definition:

Grassrootsgrass-roots grass'-roots' (grăs'rūts', -rʊts') adj.
1. People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity.
2. Often used with the groundwork or source of something.

When I think about grassroots, I think about people who have worked together for a greater good. Most people who started grassroots movements did so because they saw a need and decided to address it. Families, neighbors, and friends joined together to enhance their communities. Together, they developed a "root system", supporting the growth of the entire group.

You and I enjoy our civil rights because of grassroots movements. We drink clean water. We drive on safer highways. We visit museums, historical sites, and landmarks. We benefit from legislation that keeps our families safe. And yet, do we ever really think about how these things came to be?

I love history, partly because I am often surprised by the accomplishments of just one person. People who changed our world for the better. People who seemed to have no fear or hesitation. They just thought something up, and they did it.

I have always admired Clara Barton. During the Civil War, Clara served as a nurse to wounded soldiers in Massachussetts. She eventually obtained permission to move to the front lines, treating and comforting soldiers on the battlefield. (A woman on the battlefield was unheard of in those days.) We all know the rest of the story - she began the American Red Cross, became a suffragette, and lived in service to her country - in one way or another - until the end of her days. But the reason I admire her has more to do with her boldness. She was determined to make a difference in someone - a soldier's life - and she buttoned up her boots and laced up her corset and took off onto those battlefields. She knew they needed her. Nobody can argue with that kind of determination.

Grassroots begins with one person speaking up, meeting with another, discussing ideas, making and implementing plans. But in order to make a difference in the community, you need to be aware of its needs. It's important to be an active observer of your neighborhood in order to be able to find its strengths, weaknesses, and places where it just might need a little leg up. Do some research to find out if a local nonprofit is already trying to address those needs. And then, get involved! Volunteer, help raise money, or help to publicize their mission. You can do it!

Mahatma Ghandi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I couldn't agree more.

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