Community is something we speak about as though it is a location that resides beyond the cocoon of our individual lives. A place of gathering where activity, controversy and learning can be found at all corners. It's the vitality that shapes our daily lives from its many tentacles of influence and agreement. This is the pragmatic industrial-like machine that societies form to keep generations moving forward in a productive and safe manner.

When chaos, however, is abound in your everyday life the very idea of following local news can be overwhelming. Struggling to secure a livelihood just to put food on your table leaves little energy to consider the plight of those in other far away nations. Immediate individual realities simply over throw our sense of community compassion. It may seem to some that keeping the “news of the day” out of the minds eye is native and irresponsible, but the truth is, you simply can't fight city hall when you're battling for your life.

Illness, aging, disability, grief, despair are the valleys that link the hills of community together, and if community is meant to serve every ones best interests then the view from the top of the hill will not turn a blind eye to those who journey along the roads less traveled.