Q: We have had some new people moving into our town lately. On the one hand, it’s great. We were worried that our town was slowly dying. But now we are worried the newcomers will not contribute to our community in a way that makes sense to us. People in our town care about each other. We would like to keep it that way. What do you think of all of this?
A: I respond to your question by referring to two studies.
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The first concluded that people living in crowded conditions do not have time to demonstrate a lot of compassion for others. They are busy trying to survive without tripping over each other and that takes energy that might otherwise be used for being sensitive to their neighbours.
But they are no less caring than anyone else and given the opportunity to get more involved with their neighbours, they can contribute as much as long-term residents.
The second study deals with newcomers’ ability to adopt lifestyles that are shared throughout our prairie communities. The trick is to start with small gestures.
In studies done in California neighbourhoods, researchers posing as locals asked some of the residents to put on their lawns large and obtrusive signs telling motorists to look out for small children while driving. Most looked at the large signs and said they did not want them on their lawns.
However, several agreed to put up almost inconspicuous signs, asking motorists to drive carefully.
Researchers waited for a few weeks and then went back to the community and asked those people with the small signs if they would consider putting up the original larger signs. This time many said yes.
The message was clear: you start small before expecting big things from people. The same thing is likely true for newcomers to our prairie towns.
They are more likely to get involved with the community if your kids are walking to school with their kids, if you help them rototill their gardens, have a cup of coffee with them and show them where to go to register their children in baseball.
When newcomers are included in small events of everyday life, they not only feel that they are a part of the community, they are also more inclined to help preserve all that is good about life on the Prairies.
Jacklin Andrews is a family counsellor from Saskatchewan who has taught social work at two universities. Mail correspondence in care of Western Producer, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or e-mail jandrews@producer.com.
