This week I’d love to share a thought about ‘making everyone feel welcome’ – ‘making sure that everyone can be successful.’ Not just one group or another. Not just a few.
I’m sure you’ve been in situations where perhaps you’re having a conversation and there is someone on the periphery who would clearly like to be included. It would be so easy to ignore them and continue your pleasant conversation. But that would be a mistake. And deep down, you know it. The right thing to do is to be inclusive, be welcoming, validate that other person – and in truth, everyone will benefit.
The same is true of a community. At the Sunshine Initiative, we are focused on helping to revitalize small towns and communities across the country. And it would be so easy to focus on a small group within a particular community become successful – for instance, working only with the business leaders. But that would miss the point. For our revitalization to be successful, we need to lift everyone up. We need to make sure that everyone succeeds.
That means reaching out to the folks who may not naturally raise their hands. It means actively seeking out the quiet voices, the overlooked, and those who may have given up hope that anyone will ever listen. Whether it’s the single mom working two jobs, the high school student who’s unsure of their future, or the retired veteran wondering what comes next — they all have a place, a purpose, and a potential to contribute to the fabric of the community. When we engage them, when we empower them, our entire effort becomes stronger and more sustainable.
True revitalization doesn’t happen from the top down — it happens from the inside out. It grows from connection, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. When people see that they matter, that their voice counts, they step forward with energy, creativity, and commitment. The community becomes more than a collection of individuals — it becomes a team, a family, a movement. And that's when real transformation takes place.
So, let’s remember: the goal is not just progress for the few, but opportunity for the many. Not just new businesses and buildings, but new dreams and renewed hope. Getting everybody in the game isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing. It’s how we build stronger towns, healthier communities, and a more united nation — one inclusive step at a time.
