When thinking about community, we have to start with its most essential element: people.
And what are people? People are creatures of meaning — we make symbols, we live by them, and we share them. So communities, too, are made of symbols.
Except, what do I mean by symbols? I mean everything: from words, to art, to music … all those things that make us distinctly human. Our decorations, ornaments, holidays, stories, family titles, traditions — all are symbols we use to understand and recognize each other apart from and in relation to ourselves.
It follows, then, that our communities become defined by the symbols most resonant to our collective attention. The themes we gravitate toward and values we uphold together make us something more than mere individuals. We become a collection of people, united in something more: a community.
So … in Springdale, what is it that unites us? What sets us apart from hundreds of thousands of other communities in the world?
My answer is simple: Springdale Gives.
Now, this may seem a bit clichéd. It may sound like something every other community could say about themselves. After all, what kind of community can thrive if its people are unwilling to give to each other?
When I say this about Springdale, however, I mean something different. The culture of giving here, formed between the outskirts of Johnson, Tontitown, Elm Springs, Lowell, and Sonora, extends beyond those boundaries to Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, and the world over.
Here in Springdale, locality attracts and gives back its attention to the world, so that in giving to itself it truly gives to all. Here exists a cosmopolitan bubble where community means family, and family means everyone. This melting pot of Italians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, and Southerners represents what happens when people see and respect each other as people, wishing for one another what they would wish for themselves.
One of the ways this can be seen most clearly is through our local non-profits. Three worth highlighting in this article are as follows: the Jones Center, the Children’s Safety Center (CSC), and the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas (HWOA).
The Jones Center represents Springdale’s heartbeat of service. It is both a symbol and an engine of giving, offering free or low-cost recreation, education, and nonprofit workspace — an all-in-one depiction of our city’s initiative to share space and purpose with all of its families, kids, and nonprofits. The Jones Center reveals that communities are stronger when they band together, and that by serving each other they may reach beyond boundaries of time and place.
The Children’s Safety Center views healing as a way of giving. In its collaboration with law enforcement, doctors, therapists, and more, this center shows that true generosity surpasses finances. It taps into the roots of compassion as a deeply personal and active state of being: one that sits with the most vulnerable by sacrificing time, expertise, and care to help them recover from abuse.
Last but not least, the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas gives by hearing our community’s multicultural voice. Built by and for the community, it provides educational opportunities through scholarships and leadership training. Overall, the HWOA gives the gift of opportunity for Hispanic first-generation students, women, and families, helping them strive upward through collective empowerment.
All in all, whether it’s walking down Emma Avenue or strolling around the Springdale square, something feels unique and fresh in the air. That distinction to me has become clear: Springdale Gives.