One of the most lasting and enduring features of the North Penn Area is the level of diversity that our community shares. We have mosques, churches of multiple denominations and synagogues all within a few miles of one another, making us a true melting pot for people of all types of backgrounds. However, our future is not going to be made by the mere existence of these groups, rather in how we forge bonds between ourselves and work together to improve our home for everyone.
In the time I have been in office, it is has been a focus of mine to visit many of our faith communities on a semi-regular basis. We, as people, draw connection and identity from our faith. That identity and passion drives congregations to do volunteer work, build beautiful works of art, and help those in our community who need a helping hand. We are a better community because of the good works that our faith organizations bring to our home, and I enjoy spending time with them and learning all about their faith and their passions.
However, we need to bring these organizations together more often. We have so much to share and learn from one another.
A great example of this was on a visit to St. Mary’s and St. Kyrillo’s Coptic Church, where the congregation is working together to build a new church for themselves. Many of them are immigrants from Egypt, where it is illegal to practice Christianity. In their sanctuary sits some of the finest handcrafted wood work and mosaics in the area, all crafted by the congregation members themselves. This is the type of skill that could be shared with other groups in our community—faith based or not. Imagine, a young child learning a craft like wood working at a young age and using that as a key skill throughout their life.
I am sure there are plenty of other examples—just like St. Mary’s in the area—of highly skilled communities that can share their knowledge with other groups. Beyond the value of learning a new skill, there is the value of interacting with one another. When we communicate on this level we begin to break down walls that, for a multitude of reasons, exist. We begin to see the value in not just the skill, but the people behind that skill and the experiences that brought you together.
Lansdale benefits from people coming together and learning from one another in an open way. Knowledge and skill do little for us if it is kept hidden on the shelf. Let’s bring that skill and passion out into the open and share it with as many people as possible, and help build a community that expands our collective knowledge.
See also:
Mayoral Musings: ‘Lansdale’s Power Play’
Mayoral Musings: ‘Labor Day Squared’
Mayoral Musings: 'Of Course, This is About Founders Day'
Mayoral Musings: ‘It Takes a Village, or Perhaps a Borough’
