What Can We Do for Our Community When We Lack Power Over Policies, Legislation, Educational Challenges, or Economic Instabilities?
This question has been a persistent source of concern for me. How can a small community like ours become stronger and more resilient? How can we better prepare for and recover from these challenges?
The Challenges We Are Facing
Like any town, we experience both highs and lows. Recently, however, recovering from these lows has become increasingly difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard. Being so far from town and facing high gas prices made it financially challenging to travel for supplies. Basic items like flour, salt, and yeast became hard to find, and we were unable to purchase them in the quantities we were accustomed to. Many of us relied on our existing stockpiles, while some realized just how dependent we were on the local gas station. During this time, we also faced conflicts over mask mandates, which threatened our only food source if OSHA were to shut us down. Tragically, we lost several residents to COVID-19 complications, exacerbating divisions over mask policies. Where we once got our morning news from locals at the gas station before work, we now struggle to find reliable news sources.
Our main event that attracts tourism did not perform as well as in previous years. With low attendance and even lower morale, we barely broke even. Our largest youth organization, the football program, is dwindling due to low enrollment and poor performance, which is eroding a significant part of our community culture. On a positive note, other youth activities, such as church, wrestling, and 4-H, are thriving with high levels of participation.
Our elementary school received a one-star rating for the 2022–2023 school year. According to the Nevada Department of Education, this rating means:
“A One-Star School is one that has not met the state’s performance standards. Students and subgroups are inconsistent in achieving performance standards. The school has multiple areas needing improvement, including urgent needs in areas significantly below standard. The school must submit an improvement plan identifying supports tailored to subgroups and indicators that are below standard. The school is subject to state interventions.”
The Solutions
One of our biggest challenges is identifying the issues before they become critical. Without daily updates, problems can creep up on us unnoticed. One moment we are debating mask mandates, and the next, our small grocery store is closed. The challenges we face are interconnected, and individual actions can have collective consequences.
Education appears to be the key to addressing these issues. Information is essential, and knowledge is power. From early education to emergency preparedness training, we can benefit greatly. We propose focusing on three pillars that are fundamental to thriving communities: Children and Families, Self-Government, and Art and Literature.
By strengthening education in these areas, we believe we can transform our town for the better. Self-reliance and self-government can help us manage the challenges posed by COVID-19 and mitigate future problems in an increasingly unstable economy. By providing a safe space for parents and children to learn life skills and literacy, independent of local educational institutions, we can build resilience and inspire a more fulfilling and enjoyable life for our community.
