We can make the most impactful changes right where we are, rather than hundreds of miles away. What we can literally do in our own backyard can have a reverberating effect on those around us. Humans are wired to watch each other, and if we see our neighbors making a positive impact in the community it can be quite infectious!
Pam Warhurst along with her co-founder Mary Clear are two of my role models for many reasons, but most importantly their commitment to lead with action and by example. They brought back an agrarian way of life throughout their small town of Todmorden, England, to bolster community spirit, rekindle the intimate relationship between people and food, and improve the health of their friends and neighbors. What a lovely example of positive power! You can’t help but walk away from this TED Talk deeply inspired and also, hopefully, called to be a contribution just as I did.
Watch the entire TED Talk for full context, which can be found here.
For information about this fantastic movement, visit their website.
My 4 favorite quotes from the talk:
“People are ready and respond to the story of food. They want positive actions they can engage in, and in their bones, they know it’s time to take personal responsibility and invest in more kindness to each other and to the environment.”
Pam Warhurst
“We are not daunted by the sophisticated arguments that say, ‘These small actions are meaningless in the face of tomorrow’s problems,’ because I have seen the power of small actions, and it is awesome.”
Pam Warhurst
“And none of this takes more money and none of this demands a bureaucracy, but it does demand that you think things differently and you are prepared to bend budgets and work programs in order to create that supportive framework that communities can bounce off.”
Pam Warhurst
“If we want to inspire the farmers of tomorrow, then please let us say to every school, create a sense of purpose around the importance to the environment, local food, and soils. Put that at the heart of your school culture, and you will create a different generation.”
Pam Warhurst
BONUS! If you’d like to see my technique for fully digesting the books, podcasts, and videos that impacted me, check out My Learning Process in the Toolshed.
If you haven’t already, subscribe to the email list to stay up to date on new content and see what I’m personally working on each month. Plus! I’ll send you a great tool I developed to create momentum when I am feeling stuck.