Harrison Carter reflects on his summer of living democracy
This summer has been quite the experience to say the least. It was full of unprecedented events and experiences that I never thought I would have. Like everyone else, I was taking the past five months day by day as it felt like the world was crumbling around us.
However, the opportunity to be a part of the Living Democracy program this summer added a sense of normality to my life that I was desperately searching for. Although it was not the experience I expected when I signed up, I still learned a lot about myself and the community of Elba, Alabama.
I wish I had the opportunity to actually spend ten weeks in Elba this summer. However, because of the pandemic, we had to virtually visit and learn. I was able to make amazing connections over the phone and through Zoom. Everyone I encountered was more than happy to have a chat with me, and they all treated me with kindness and compassion. They knew we were all struggling through this experience and were so willing to help.
My favorite story I wrote this summer was about how Elba was forced to cancel their recreation league baseball season. During my interviews for this story, community members inspired me as I heard about how they were always able to find the light in the darkness. This was a lesson I wasn't expecting to learn but actually needed to hear.
Even though this was not the summer that I expected, I was able to make friends, connect to a new community and learn lessons about myself. 2020 has been a rough year, but I believe that I will walk away from the experiences I have had with personal growth.
At the beginning of the summer, I experienced severe anxiety at the thought of cold calling people. Today, it does not even phase me anymore. Also, I learned how to connect with others who have had different journeys. I talked to dozens of Elba citizens, and each one taught me something new.
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Laurie Chapman taught me about pride. She loves Elba with all her heart and was so willing to share what makes it so great. When I spoke with Mayor Murdock, he taught me about how it is to be a humble leader.
I could go on, but some of these lessons I am taking away are personal to me. If you are ever given the opportunity to partake in the Living Democracy program, I highly recommend it. Hopefully, your summer would look a lot different than mine.
Living Democracy is something people witness every day when they see people out in the community working to make their homes a better place. In each community, there are plenty of stories to be heard and actions to take. People just need to get out there and get involved.
I am extremely grateful for my Living Democracy experience and want to thank all of those in Elba who helped make this summer work. I also want to thank Dr. Mark Wilson and Nan Fairley for helping us navigate through this challenging summer.
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