“We can’t go on/pretending day by day/that someone, somehow/will soon make a change.”           

Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie- “We Are the World”

What is a community?

A community is a group of people that share things like a location, fellowship, or an identity. As a native and resident of Cleveland County, I feel like our community is on the verge of something big.

As Shelby grows and Cleveland County’s population sidles toward the 100,000 mark, our community is establishing its position as a cultural center for the North Carolina’s piedmont. According to the statistics on Cleveland County’s homepage, the largest percentage (almost 20%) of our population is AGE 14 AND BELOW!
The smallest population group (11.2%) is my generation, the 25 to 35 year olds.

So where did they go after college?

They probably went to bigger cities that can offer the pace and energy that meet their expectations. If this pattern continues, who will be left to propagate our county?

As our community evolves, so should our plans to nurture and encourage the future.

What if this percentage of children and young adults get an education and return to their hometowns to enrich and enhance our community?

Not only will it increase the population, but it also could bring more small businesses and culture, increasing commerce and stimulating our local economy!

We need to pool together our resources, brainstorm, and inspire the future and the future is our children. I teach music to over 750 kids a week. Each little boy and girl quietly and persistently watches and studies his or her parents, elders, and community. They copy your examples and they want to be like you.

So where is Shelby going?

We are moving away from the 80’s ‘Me generation’mentality. We are realizing that what we put in our body affects our life and health. We know there is more to life than TV, technology, and video games. But when are we going to change?

You are the community. If you are reading these words, you have just assumed the responsibility of this adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” You are the village, and we are the world.

If you want to discuss this further, make a change, or have an idea, then please feel free to email me: justin@songharper.com