歪歪漫画

For the past nine years, I鈥檝e woke up and made my way to the Bemidji Pioneer鈥檚 newsroom.

From there, I鈥檝e been dispatched all over town. I鈥檝e witnessed hardships, the city council, athletic achievers, and the list goes on. If I wasn鈥檛 there in person to observe it, I鈥檝e often overheard a coworker chatting about a hot topic or a big game from the night before.

After all this time and all that I鈥檝e witnessed in our vibrant, growing community, my time as an observer for the Pioneer has come to an end.

Community is a theme that my Ward 1 city council representative, Audrey Thayer, ran her successful campaign on. It鈥檚 something she speaks about often and, in doing so, has inspired me to reflect on the community I鈥檝e witnessed during my years at the Pioneer as I spend my final days here.

Being a witness to our community hasn鈥檛 been just following Facebook or Twitter posts. It鈥檚 not about who鈥檚 yelling the loudest online. (Though Bemidjians did will a Pizza Ranch into near-existence, which is impressive.) For me, it鈥檚 been when we鈥檙e together. The events in Bemidji that welcome anyone and everyone are where I鈥檝e found the most joy in doing my job.

I鈥檝e seen folks come together in shows of community and, just as well, I鈥檝e seen them torn apart. I鈥檝e left photo assignments with my heart feeling warmer than ever, but I鈥檝e also left some in tears.

It鈥檚 been quite the honor to spend the majority of the last decade as an onlooker to some of the examples I will give, but community to me is also in the small interactions. I think Audrey would agree.

It鈥檚 paying attention to those around you. If something seems off or doesn鈥檛 feel right, it probably isn鈥檛. And what happens next is where the sense of community comes in. Instead of averting our eyes, help. Or at the very least, just check.

Check to see if the child wandering alone has a destination. Check to see if the homeless community member, out on a 90-degree day, has enough water and food to get them through.

We鈥檝e all heard, 鈥淚f you see something, say something,鈥� but occasionally we must consider our community members who might be struggling to cover their basic needs. These are the instances of community that might seem insignificant at the moment, but they can make a world of difference.

When crisis after crisis struck the community living in the Ridgeway Court apartments, Audrey knew it wasn鈥檛 the time to avert her eyes. She came together with other local groups and played a part in organizing barbecues, get-togethers and more.

It鈥檚 been times like that when I鈥檝e felt the most encouraged here in Bemidji. And it鈥檚 not just in the small interactions of caring for one another, but in the big moments, too.

When we all gather for our annual Dragon Boat Festival or at events like National Night Out, where we actually interact with one another, we see our similarities. We can laugh with each other about the small things and even dive into the deeper issues and have respectful conversations.

It鈥檚 not easy to make time for community when we鈥檙e all shut inside because winter is frigid and dark. So this summer, I urge you to take part in our community. Attend a local event. Take a class on something new. That鈥檚 where I鈥檝e seen folks connect the most.

I鈥檒l still be around to bear witness to all of these grand gestures of community because my new perch is one that allows it -- though from a slightly different perspective. I鈥檒l be joining the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce to handle marketing and communications at the beginning of April.

I鈥檓 elated to still be 鈥渋n the know鈥� while championing our Bemidji community. And proudly being a part of it.

Jillian Gandsey is the former multimedia editor at the Pioneer.