|
Ken Chapman & Assoc. |
||
|
Article The
Common Good
There is possibly no more vivid example of his belief in the
importance of the common good than his work with Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat was officially founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976,
though the two had been exploring the idea for many years before that,
first in the United States and then overseas.
The goal of the organization is a huge one: eliminate poverty-level housing and homelessness from the
world. In the late 70’s and
early 80’s, the Fullers began their bold venture.
After six years, they had built houses internationally in Mexico,
Zaire, and Guatemala. And in
the United States, they had affiliates building houses in San Antonio,
Texas; Americus, Georgia; Johns Island, South Carolina; and other
locations in Florida and Appalachia.
Groundwork was being laid for them to build in many other cities,
but the process was a struggle. They
found a successful formula for the goal—offer home ownership to the
neediest people able to make a house payment.
Build low-cost housing using volunteer labor, involve the future
homeowner in the building process, and create no-interest loans to finance
the houses. It was an inspired idea and it was catching on.
To reach the world, as they desired however, the Fullers knew they
would have to take Habitat to a whole new level.
From their headquarters in the town of Americus in Southern
Georgia, the Fullers saw a possibility.
Ten miles away in the tiny town of Plains was a man who might be
able to help them—Jimmy Carter. The
former U. S. President had spoken at a couple of Habitat functions.
Following Carter’s speaking in 1983, Millard Fuller got the idea
to approach Carter about helping promote the project, and in early 1984, they
made contact. When Carter
said he was very interested in Habitat for Humanity, Fuller decided to
boldly propose a list of 15 possible roles the former president could
take, hoping he would agree to one or two.
His list included serving on Habitat’s board, making media
contacts, helping to raise money, doing a 30-minute video, and working on
a building crew for a day. To
Fuller’s surprise, Carter did not agree to do one or two items on the
list; he agreed to do everything on the list. Ironically, the task that captured the attention of the public most was Carter’s willingness to serve on a building crew and swing a hammer to help construct a house. At first people thought Carter would just stop by for brief publicity photos, but the former president put together a work crew, traveled with them via Trailways Bus to the Brooklyn, New York building site, worked tenaciously every day for a week, and slept in a church basement along with everyone else. That first time was in 1984. Carter has raised a team and served in a similar fashion every year since then and his dedicated service has attracted people from every walk of life to serve in similar roles.
Habitat for Humanity is the brainchild of the Fullers’ and its
success is the result of the efforts of hundreds of thousands of people
from around the globe, but Jimmy Carter is the one who put it on the map.
His selfless service inspired people, rich and poor, famous and
obscure, powerful and not so powerful, to see the huge goal of helping
people at the lowest level of society by providing them with a decent
place to live. He inspired
many to get involved.
This is one of many reasons why he is often referred to as the most
successful “former president.” This
president, who may not be known as the best president in the U. S.
history, may well be one of the best “former presidents” in U. S.
history. So far, Habitat and
its volunteers have built more than 100,000 houses, sheltering more than a
half million people all over the world.
Why? Because they,
like former President Jimmy Carter, wanted to be a part of something
bigger than themselves. Like
former President Jimmy Carter, they believed in the importance of the
common good. <End> |
||
|
Copyright © .
All rights reserved. Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. |