There are so many people who can benefit from community that it sometimes feels disorienting to know where to begin. But instead of waiting for someone to hand you a grand plan, you can do a small point of action today to make a connection with a neighbor.

This is why The Platia revolves around a concept called harm reduction, or reducing the damage in our communities for the most vulnerable, from making sure everyone has food to eat, to raising our children as a village. Because we are only as strong as our most vulnerable neighbors.

If this is a new concept to you and you're overwhelmed with how to begin, here are three small steps, pick one to do today.

1. Buy a few hand warmers in any local pharmacy, hardware store or dollar store. I like to buy the value pack because it makes them significantly cheaper. Keep a few in your coat pocket and hand them out as you see people who need a little warmth. That could be a city worker fixing a pothole, someone sleeping on the street, a young person at a protest, or anyone who looks cold. You don't have to validate their need, just ask if they'd like one. Groups like The Everywhere Project (who we're having an event with on 2/15!) have more ideas on how to help the unhoused around you. If you can't make our event, we have a wishlist for items that go in a cold weather kit that you can use to make your own kits, or help us fill ours.

2. Ask for the name of a person you see or interact with daily. Personifying the people around us helps us see our neighborhood as a community rather than a geographic spot of a map, and creates connections. While we've been trained to be individuals, we are dependent on every one in our communities to keep running, and learning their names is the first step to starting conversations that better the entire block.

3. Take a plastic bag outside with you and pick up items of trash you see on your walk. I take my dog's bathroom bags because I'm used to turning them inside out so that I don't touch the trash, and they can hold a few pieces of garbage. By cleaning up trash on your street, you're not only helping with community hygiene, you're giving your neighbors pride in where they live, which is a gateway to other forms of harm reduction in the community. In Philly you can learn more about this work from folks like Ya Fav Trashman.

If you're ready to take the next step from here, events by The Platia will introduce you to mutual aid groups that keep our communities running. Come out, learn, meet them and help your community thrive.

Thanks,

Annemarie