It goes both ways.
On one side of the coin, citizens need to take the responsibility to get involved. They need to attend public meetings, even if it is three hours of budgets and spreadsheets. They need to belong to service organizations, which bring together a diverse group of people to better their community. They need to appreciate what is already in place, while working together to make it even better.
On the flip side, our leaders, both in the government and in community organizations, need to include others when making decisions or considering projects or determining what will happen 5, 10, 20 years from now.
That feeling of inclusion is important if a community is going to grow and thrive.
If we want our young people to feel like they are really part of the community, they need to be heard and their opinions respected. If we want new-comers to get involved, they need to be asked and feel valued. If we want our community to work together, we need to make sure everyone feels included and feels needed.
Ultimately, people want to have a say in what their community should look like and what their community needs. And that involves work.
The easy button for any government agency or community organization is to go it alone, to do it themselves, without asking for input or help or outside opinions. To some, an ideal world is where everyone pays their taxes and doesn’t ask for anything or who pays their dues but doesn’t get involved or even show up.
But that doesn’t lead to long-term growth or a deep attachment to a community or organization. People who have been asked to contribute and had a role in a decision being made are the ones who are going to work to make their community better.
In my ideal world, our parks are so full of giggling children and laughing parents that we have to replace the equipment every few years or even consider the development of more green space. Our downtown streets are so full of people out and about - walking, shopping and visiting - that the road is occasionally shut down to traffic. Our service organizations have so many active members that they have to take turns volunteering for community projects.
And we have city council meetings with people standing along the back wall waiting to be heard about the budget. We have school board meetings packed with residents there to celebrate the students’ accomplishments and ask questions about the curriculum.
According to a recent study from the Knight Foundation, people will fit in better if a city has incorporated community feedback. People want to feel included, like their voice has been heard and that their opinion matters.
Governments are used to a top-down approach without an emphasis on engagement. But the best project will involve a variety of people and a host of organizations with wide-ranging opinions and ideas who have come together to meet the needs or the community.
This has a ripple effect on the rest of the community from workforce development and youth engagement to development and resilience. If citizens feel like they have value within a community, they are more likely to be involved. They are more likely to donate their time and money. And they are more likely to give their support to a project or idea.
Research has shown that community-driven programs, along with welcoming spaces, foster higher levels of attachment and trust. It is not solely up to the government to create everything we want and need in a community, but those projects which are coordinated by the government agencies need to listen to their residents, they need to ask their opinions, they need to include them in the discussions as well as the decision.
Communities which take the step to include as many residents as possible will be stronger, will be more vibrant, and will continue to create a better quality of life for everyone. By making people feel included and needed, we will make McCook an even better place to call home.
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
