When we think of interacting with our community, it can be easy to default to “giving” as the primary action we partake in — yet “receiving” plays just as important a role in relationships.
Loving in a reciprocal manner requires intentional engagement by giving as well as receiving and truly getting to know others. This reciprocal love should be key when the Taylor community collaborates with places such as Upland, Gas City and other surrounding towns.
“I [think that community engagement is an important concept] as we talk about relating well to our community, [and] that we understand that we have things to offer and to give, but also it's a blessing when we receive well and are part of that ‘give-and-take’ [engagement],” Andrea Masvero (‘96), executive director of 1846 Enterprises, said.
Proper engagement also means taking the time to deeply understand the members of a community, through ‘receiving’ an embedded perspective of its people, culture, values, strengths and struggles.
Ashley Tiberi (‘05), president of the nonprofit board of Our Town Upland, said that some of the ways people can participate in the community include going to the Farmer’s Market and getting to know the people behind the stands; it can also look like getting a card at the Upland Public Library or having a deeper awareness of the community itself.
“There's a lot of need here [in Upland], but there's also really beautiful people and really beautiful stories that I think students can understand, be exposed to and open up their own lives to,” Tiberi said.
Masvero said “receiving” can start by accepting help in our personal lives, even if it is in small ways.
If the only thing we’re doing is “giving,” we risk adopting a “better-than” position, she said.
“When we keep that balance [of giving and receiving], we admit that we have needs too and that there are things other people can contribute to us,” Masvero said.
That two-way relationship between a town and university students can create an improved quality of life for both parties, Gas City Mayor Bill Rock Jr., said.
Rock has been facilitating growth in Gas City and capitalizing on diverse business ventures, encouraging residents and surrounding communities to participate in local activities.
One of the ways Gas City has been encouraging community engagement has been keeping their Gas City Concerts At The Park visible to drivers on the State Road 22. Through various activities, they’ve made many community events like this one financially accessible.
“We're proud of a lot of the things we're doing — the sports, our school, things that we work [on] together and the universities we have here,” Rock said. “We feel blessed to be in a community that has two universities around us and people that are building in the city and just making life better for all of us.”
Partnerships with Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan University has allowed places like Gas City to flourish, but also creates opportunities for students to engage as well, whether it’s through attending community events or accepting employment opportunities.
Masvero encourages students to participate in things in the community that already exist, such as investing in local churches and joining organizations like the Upland Garden Club or the Greenways Association.
“[People] always have great initiative and idealism about things that we want to change in the world,” Masvero said. “Sometimes, it's really great to learn from other organizations that exist and have been doing this for a time and understanding the wisdom that they offer. Participating and contributing to those existing organizations can be a great learning opportunity and a great way to contribute.”
Participation can also look like supporting local businesses like Polished, Walnut Creek or Greeks or even buying gas directly in town. Pouring into the local economy is a great way to engage in reciprocal relationships, Tiberi said.
So while it’s important to be intentional in our Taylor community, remember to seek engagement beyond the bubble and to love others in both giving and receiving.
