Community is a verb

Community can be described a a collective of people who come together to support and engage each other, forming a sense of belonging and shared identity.

The two contexts that I most frequently hear community mentioned are by longtime residents bemoaning that growth has caused a loss of community or by newcomers who were attracted to our wonderful communities now determined that more newcomers will destroy present day’s sense of community.

It’s a paradox. Community isn’t abstract. It isn’t a building or a neighborhood or a noun or a number. I prefer to think of community as a verb, which is action. So many people through the years, by their actions large and small, have created the unique, generous and beautiful place we call home.

As I pare down my own community engagement, I’m certainly not disengaging, just making room at the table for others to be seated. There are over 200 nonprofit and service organizations in Kootenai County. Wherever your passions or priorities lie, I can guarantee there’s a group that would benefit from your involvement.

If you’ve ever uttered words about a vanishing sense of community, reflect upon how and where you’re participating. Let’s make 2024 the year of the verb!

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Happy birthday today to Sue Myers, Marion Richardson, Jody Azevedo, Tina Nowoj, Kylie Frank, Josh Adams, Cindy Shepperd, May Lynn Hammon, Ed Santos, Danelle Reagan, Jillian-Kate Scott and Acaja-Lyn Scot. Tomorrow, Rod Heitstuman, Jerrilou Shofner, Shauna Moore, Jonathan Madrid, Marlene Waddell, Lizzie Nowoj, Jadrian Hammon, Pearl Robertson, Athena Kinsry, Michaelle Sande, Mike Erin, Sherry Farmer and Rick Demmig mark their special day. On Friday, Christa Hazel (50!), Alex Jimenez (40!), Rosemary Goodlander, Kali Snider Johnson, Jeff Hall, Linda Hall, Austin Chadderdon, Nicholle Sheppard, David Townsend, Julie Kirking, Russell Larson and Mr. and Mrs. Smith do the birthday dance. Jeff and Candace Smith have no excuse for missing each other’s birthday since they share the date. On Saturday, Mike Hendricks and Khloe Peacock will celebrate. Jenni Grimmett, Valerie Wilcox, Hope Newman, Lauren Adair, John Andres and Chad Oakland will wear their party hats Sunday. Fern Glass, Rachel Riggs, Cindy Peugh, Allen Hildebrant, Tayler Ekness, Don Waddell and David Gerzina Sr. will blow out their candles  Jan. 29. Jim Custer, Shannon Damiano, Mel Palmer, Sierra Graham, Brylee Dresser and Helen Sargent hear the birthday song Tuesday. Jennifer Alexander, Robert Brown, Cassidy Peacock, Sandy Scarlett, Erik Salvador, Linda Wolff, Mary Bell and Bernadette Myers take another trip around the sun on the last day of January.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com.