The root of development in any community should start with “the people” who live there.

Which means, in theory, the more “the people” become “developed”, the community should benefit from this development.

On the contrary, if “the people” are ignorant, the community suffers from this ignorance.

Let me take a little time to define some of the words used above. For example, the term “The People” represents a group of persons (individuals) on a common vision and strategy to attain it.

Once they speak the same language by understanding their vision and strategy, they transition from saying “I” believe, or “I am doing”, to saying “We believe” or “we are doing.”

Above, I used the word “developed” after the word “The People”.

Meaning, if the community had its “People” it (the community) would become developed. If a community has “no people” the community suffers.

Poverty, violence, poor health are a few indicators of communities functioning without “The People.” These communities rely on or are subjected to the assistance of others often outside of their very community.

The vision and strategy to empower “The People” in any community that I propose is #Familyhood. #Familyhood is two words in one…Family and hood. Family, we all know. Yet, I am sure we could argue all day what family means and use our own personal families as examples of why our family is unique.
“Hood” comes from the word neighborhood. Yet, it goes beyond “neighbor” to illustrate “The hood” often another way of saying “The Ghetto.”

#Familyhood applies to all neighborhoods but was written especially for “the ghetto ” as a strategy to utilize its schools to lift itself into social and economic independence by me, David N. Roach aka Hotep.

#Familyhood expands the typical perspective one may have of a school (beyond a place/ physical address) but rather a brain that gets larger, grows with intelligence each year through its graduates (alumni), in partnership with its Student Government Association and Parent Teacher Association involvement.

#Familyhood is an inter-generational approach of utilizing schools as the center for development. to its community.

I have added the “#” hashtag to promote on Twitter.

#Familyhood divides each school into three major organizations and attempts through a monthly volunteer day, 1st Saturdays, to collaborate these three main organizations in operating their school garden, farmers market and eventually a grocery store.

The three major organizations of a school according to #Familyhood are Student Government Association (SGA), Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Alumni Association (AA).”

In short, #Familyhood’s mathematical formula is SGA + PTA + AA = #Famiyhood.

#Familyhood is driven by two motto’s. 1) “every school shall have a functioning Student Government Association, Parent Teacher Associations and Alumni Association.” 2) “every school shall have a garden, a farmers market and a grocery store.”

1st Saturdays is the official monthly volunteer day at schools. 1st Saturdays representing every 1st Saturday of the month as the official day the schools Student Government Association meets with it Parent Teacher Association and Alumni Association. While, they pull weeds, plant stuff, share stories.

Each school is different with infinite ways of hosting 1st Saturdays.

1stSaturdays is the “do now” strategy to advance communities towards # Familyhood.
<a href=”http://1stsaturdays.com”>1stSaturdays.com</a> is here to help!

Start today in your community!