American anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Tuesday night, a group of thoughtful, committed citizens came together to create a grassroots effort with a very simple mission – to keep Winona safe and clean. The brainchild of local dentist, Dr. Louie Harrison, an interest meeting was held at the Winona Community House, and several dozen business, political, and community leaders were in attendance.
According to Harrison, around 15 years ago, he had the idea of making Winona “the cleanest little town in America.”
“It was a good idea, but it was not a good plan,” Harrison said. “If we are going to make this happen, we are going to have to have a plan.”
Harrison said after having a discussion with a patient about citizens fleeing crime-ridden areas in the state for safer communities, he said he immediately thought of ways to lure those looking too relocate to Winona. He said Winona needed to be safe, and Winona needed to be an attractive place to live.
“We want the rest of the world to look at us and ask, ‘What are they doing?’” Harrison said.
Harrison proposed the Keep Winona Safe and Clean initiative, and asked those in attendance for help.
“There needs to be a bunch of people involved,” Harrison said.
Harrison received a round of applause from his captive audience, and hands were raised with ideas about how to execute a city-wide plan of attack.
Harrison outlined several different ways to achieve the best results, starting with the formation of several committees to tackle different elements of the initiative.
As for keeping Winona safe, Harrison asked law enforcement leaders to join with community leaders in creating a city-wide crime watch and encourage the public to speak up if they see something illegal going on.
Chief of Police Tommy Bibbs told the group, “A police department is only as good as a community makes it.”
For cleanup efforts, Harrison said it is going to take more than just trash collection and citywide cleanup days. To keep a city clean, it all goes back to education, and he asked Winona Superintendent of Education, Dr. Teresa Jackson, to help in educating the city’s young people in controlling litter.
Clean up is also going to take diligence from community leaders to ensure areas of the city remain clean. Mayor Jerry Flowers suggested street captains head up efforts in the various neighborhoods.
Some present volunteered to seek grant funding for beautification. Others offered to help spread the word. Some had no problem with walking through town collecting litter. All seemed excited about the possibility of making a better Winona.
WONA’s Seth Kent said something that was truly inspiring and at the heart of this grassroots effort, and it got me thinking.
“It’s all about attitude and spirit,” Kent said. “And it’s a desire not to accept mediocracy.”
Harrison chose not to accept mediocracy and wanted to see his hometown look and be its very best. And he decided to do something about it.
You want to change the world, or just your own little stop on the map? Do it.
Mark Twain said, “Actions speak louder than words, but not as often.”
Exactly how loud can we be?
I want to commend Louie Harrison for wanting to make a difference, making a plan, and putting that plan in motion. And as history proves, it only takes an idea and the guts to see it through to achieve great things. A little help from your friends never hurt either.
If you are interested in getting involved in the Keep Winona Safe and Clean initiative, contact Winona Main Street Director Sue Stidham at 662-283-4828 or email her at edp@att.net.
