A few months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a special event for the Delaware Botanic Gardens near Dagsboro. It was not the first of several events I have attended for the organization on whose board I have served for years, and I invite the readers to visit the gardens whenever time and favor may allow.
The Delaware Botanic Gardens is but one of hundreds of examples of what can happen when a disparate group of human beings with a specific goal set out to accomplish said goal. Whatever the group or organization, it usually starts with nothing or next to nothing, and eventually, and many times miraculously, produces a something out of that nothing.
“It takes a village,” and more, and the formation of that village is rarely seen as a day-to-day event, but develops over time. Take success in parenting, for example. It starts with one or two dedicated individuals. Expansion of the care is attributed to grandparents in the early years of the child, and then there are daycare personnel, pediatricians, playground friends, aunts and uncles, K-12 teachers, higher education instructors, friends, bosses. With few exceptions, none of these components were present and/or active at birth. So too it is with an organization, especially a nonprofit. Similar even to a painting! There is an empty canvas, to which a myriad of oils and pastes are added. Consulting experts are sought, and many suggestions offered. Eventually the framed piece is being admired at MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art.
Here in the Cape Region, a handful of hopeful pioneers defied reality and grappled with truth to produce an amazing garden amid strife and an ever-changing landscape, in every sense of the word. As many gathered at this ribbon-cutting event, it was extremely apparent that there were many whose hands had taken turns in stirring the broth, and the soup is delicious and nutritious.
Such is true of a number of enterprises in our area, two of which involve chains of restaurants now numbering in the teens, whether burgers under arches or fish supported by beers. There are also many philanthropic programs which provide assistance to the physically and mentally challenged. So many of these organizations struggled at their outset and in their early years, and have triumphed as a result of hard work and cooperation.
It is so rewarding to know that success is the result of seeking and working with others, both those whom we know and some whom we annex into our circle to assist us. The village which we create because of selflessness and intelligence is usually something to behold. We see in our creation a re-creation of sorts, a place or an organization which could never have existed without all the components drawn into the new configuration. We celebrate success as we enjoy the cooperation and collaboration with so many others, and take pride that we entered into these alliances in a very timely manner. There are so many models to be admired and copied in terms of roads to success and achievement. It is within the human spirit to emulate the good and worthwhile, and we observe such in so many places and situations, many of which are the care and feeding of solid nonprofit organizations. If one sets out on a noble mission, s/he and the mission need to be surrounded by people who shall help the mission reach its objective and beyond.
It is so amazing that one does not realize often enough that others are needed for a successful venture. Many of these others are people whom we have never met, nor ever believed we would meet. Sitting out there waiting for a tap on the shoulder or the shake of a hand is a multitude of faithful folks, eager to help in a myriad of projects, if only sought and then asked. We applaud with enthusiasm our local organizations which have paired with so many others to produce results of which we are all proud as citizens of the Cape Region. Without the letter and spirit of togetherness and cooperation, organizations cannot proceed with the successes they have experienced. And if we choose to add personal monetary contributions (either purchase or donation) to these organizations, the ultimate result shall certainly be success, for both the organization and the people it serves.
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Peter E. Carter is a former public school administrator who has served communities in three states as a principal, and district and county superintendent, for 35-plus years. He is a board member for Delaware Botanic Gardens and Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation, and the author of a dual autobiography, “A Black First…the Blackness Continues.”
