Two Words, Eight Letters: Thank You

Editor’s note: In April 2017, twelve Fulbrighters engaged in a week-long service learning project in Williamson, West Virginia, an Appalachian community with valuable lessons to share about sustainability, perseverance and revitalization. This is one in a series of blog posts from the Fulbrighters who visited Williamson. The Fulbrighters were asked to focus on their experiences in Williamson, as well as their engagement with local American community leaders. Visit the Fulbright Amizade 2017 Storify for more details on their journey.

In the small coal-mining town of Williamson, West Virginia lie many gems: the wild and wonderful landscape, the hospitality of the community, and the persistent work of everyday heroes who make miracles there. In Williamson, it does not matter whether you meet an 8-year-old girl participating in an after-school program, a 40-year-old man playing basketball with underserved children, or a 70-year-old beekeeper, you can experience the fact that “giving back to the community” is ageless. During the first week of April 2017, twelve enthusiastic Fulbrighters were able to experience and contribute to the ways in which the residents of Williamson make a difference. We joined local residents in building community gardens, turning rocky mining lands into fertile soil, and teaching the next generation how to give back. This is a thank you note to all of the people who were part of the Fulbright Amizade service-learning project and made an impact on our lives, inspiring us to take our turn to build a better future for the next generation.

One highlight of the week included a kickball match we played with the students of Williamson PK-8 School. During the game, the kids told me how they started a fundraiser to build a new playground at their school. I also learned that the children are part of the 21st Century Learning Centers (CCLC) Youth Education Program and are taught to give back to the community as part of the curriculum. As a Fulbright Student from Hungary pursuing a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I was intrigued that these kids, from their first day in school, are “learning by doing” how to be a committed fundraiser, a humble donor, or a responsible recipient. These children and their educators became a real inspiration for me to believe that we can achieve great goals together; a valuable lesson I will take back to my Fulbright studies in philanthropy. At the end of the day we took a group picture to have a nice memory about this afternoon. That was their thank you note to us.

Later in the week, a small community came together in Williamson, to celebrate those who have supported the local youth with mentorship, advocacy, or donations. Our group of Fulbrighters attended the “Champion for Children” award ceremony at the Mingo County Family Resource Network that honored the work of four everyday Williamson-local heroes: Marlene, Nate, Bob, and Jim. During the event, I realized this is the perfect way to practice stewardship and  thank those who make a difference in the community. From my studies, I understand “it [stewardship] is a personal stance and attitude that defines an obligation to serve and take responsibility for all we have been given,” (Pribbenow, 1998, pg. 30). Stewardship is hard work. However, I have experienced that stewardship has always been present in Williamson.

Our own group of Fulbrighters embraced the opportunity to practice stewardship and wrote thank you notes for all of the individuals and organizations that hosted us during the week. Sixteen thank you notes were prepared with different thoughts and often in different languages because of the diversity of our group.  It was uplifting to witness the true appreciation of our group through the process of writing a thank you note to the Starr Family, one of the most wonderful and genuine couples I have ever met. The Starr Family hosted us on their farm and we were able to learn a great deal about beekeeping and also gain insights from their everyday life by listening to their personal stories, exploring family photos, and eating a homemade lunch. Their hospitality and their commitment towards their community reminded me of the importance of giving back to the community.  Regardless of who you are, you can and should give back to your community and be thankful for your fellows’ endless work, too.

Experiencing the power of both community and philanthropy in Williamson, I witnessed how grassroots initiatives can lead to real changes in our society. I also learned that giving back is everyone’s responsibility whether we offer our time, talent, or treasure. Because of this experience, I am committed to building bridges between the students and our local community in Indianapolis by organizing service-learning opportunities for graduate students and promoting cooperation among student organizations as a Fulbrighter and as the president of the Philanthropic Studies Society at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

I would like to thank the community of Williamson; the public, private, and nonprofit organizations who were willing to share their enthusiasm and experience with us; our hosts: Nate Siggers and Ian Fields, who make little miracles happen every day; and the group of Fulbrighters who went to Williamson in order to learn more about and volunteer with our host community. This is my thank you note to each and every one of you, who made the Fulbright Amizade service-learning project possible and for you, too, dear reader, who can share our stories and make a difference above and beyond our week-long commitment in Williamson. “It’s your turn to make a difference.”