The Committed Class

In their best seller, Switch, Chip and Dan Heath talk about making change when change is hard.  In an uncertain world where everything around us seems to be in chaos -- the potential of government default on its financial commitments due to Congressional impasse; protracted wars on three fronts; and an economy that just can't seem to get on track -- how can rural, forest-reliant communities move to a brighter future?

Ingredients Necessary for Successful Change
Many researchers and writers have developed lists of necessary ingredients or steps to successful change.  Among them, clear vision, adequate resources (people and financial) and more.  But, what if we tried to boil it down to that one vital key to successful change?  What would it be?

Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class, points to the importance of young, educated, creatives as a class needed to advance positive change.  These bright, young, artistic thinkers no doubt help.  But, what if you live in a community that doesn't attract a steady stream of those illusive creatives?  Is all gloom?

Those Who Refuse to Give Up
There is one critical ingredient necessary to success in any significant change.  Simply stated, at least one or more people must be "committed" to making it happen.  It's not enough to have a great idea or hope that someone else will step forward.   It's the presence of what we might call the "committed class" -- those who regardless of age, education, wealth, or talent, simply pour themselves into the task at hand -- that make the difference.

In the Endowment's hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, we recently lost one of the committed class that put a sleepy, southern textile town on the path to renaissance.  Max Heller, an Austrian who fled his Nazi-occupied homeland, was by all accounts someone who didn't include in his vocabulary "can't" or "impossible."  Instead, Heller, would set about often risky steps to change his adopted city for the better.

Across America in villages small and large, there are the Max Heller's -- the committed class -- who refuse to acknowledge barriers.  They don't spend their time on inventories of the risks or assessing what they don't have.  Like John Wayne at his best, they show true grit and just do it.

Giving Aid to the Committed Class
Who are the members of the committed class in your town?  What can you do to help lift them up and spur them on?  Ronald Reagan helped a generation of Americans turn from looking only at problems by instead focusing on a vision and a future -- a bright shining city on a hill.  The committed class don't have to have the charm or sales ability of a Reagan, but they do have to be ready and willing to give their all to their cause.