The Power of Community
In this, my third article for Equitas I wanted to write about the power of community. We are at the beginning of an amazing journey to transform the equine industry worldwide for equestrian women. We believe we will impact a much wider community than the equine industry but we have to start in the industry we all love so dear.
A huge part of what we will do and the change we will create will depend on the worldwide community that we will build. With this in mind, on behalf of the co-founders and the advisory group, I am proud to announce that we now have a community team here at Equitas. Led by the powerhouse that is Sarah Campbell aka @theordinaryequestrian and joined by 2 exceptional community advocates from our advisory group Heather Lemmon Kiely aka @freya_the_connemara and another queen the one and only Rachel MacKenzie aka @one.hoof.in.front.of.the.other. This is our second official team here at Equitas. After we recently launched our Media Team Led by Muireann O’Toole Brennan and joined by rising star Sarah Darker.
Community is important to us. It is the bedrock and foundation of everything we do. We want to create Equitas Tribes of women all over the world supporting each other, building each other up, promoting each other, being advocates for each other and above all, having each other's back.
"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley
The power of community is based on togetherness, a joined mission to change the equine industry for women across the world, a core focus on support and collaboration and NOT Individuality. We want to give women in equine communities a platform to be a voice for the voiceless, to push forward discussion not for self interests but for the betterment of the industry as the current custodians. We have a responsibility to the next generation to make sure they do not have to go through what you and your mother and her mother went through.
IT IS UP TO US, IT IS UP TO OUR EQUITAS COMMUNITY TO BE THE CHANGE AND TRANSFORM THE INDUSTRY. THE POWER WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
For us it is about working hard, being strategic and taking things step by step. It is about progression every day, in every way and with every opportunity that is presented. We have to be fearless. We have to be compassionate and understanding but we also need to be relentless in pursuit of our goals. It is about an unwavering belief that as our community grows and as our message spreads… the power we have to create change increases. That is the Power of Community.
Equitas, after 4 days of Edition 1 being released, it was read in 42 countries across the world. That is roughly 20% of the world's countries. We can see and feel the appetite for change. The energy and feedback is palpable but the catalyst for this change will always and forever come from our ever-growing community and tribe. THAT IS THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
I feel that our community has a lot of responsibility. We always want people to be themselves and we encourage that more than most. The one thing I will say is when you are part of a community trying to create real transformational change, IT CAN NEVER JUST BE ABOUT YOU. You can benefit from it as we all will but you can never just make it about you.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller
In this, Edition 3 of Equitas, we had over 100 submissions. At least 50 of those were straight out rejected or not considered as the people writing just wanted to talk about their business or promote themselves. That is not what we are about. That is not what our movement was created for. Admittedly, yes that would benefit the particular writers in question but what true value does that have to the community we are trying to build and the changes we are trying to create. None.
WE ALL NEED TO RISE UP TOGETHER, UNITED AS ONE, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND BELIEVING IN ONE ANOTHER. That is the power of community. It just brings me back to the inspiring African Proverb “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Our strength and our ability to create change will come from our worldwide Equitas tribes.
Our Equitas Community will always be about Empowering Change, Together and supporting one another, that is unequivocally clear. As we try to embody that mentality daily, for us, it has to be about building others up, supporting others and driving our community forward. Engaging women from all walks of life, from all around the world and giving them a platform to talk, a safe place to write and having a community where they feel welcomed, respected and appreciated. That is the Power of Community!!
I am very lucky with the community I have around me. We may have built it initially Mike and I, but the women around us have stepped up and taken on the mantle. They have believed not just in us but more importantly themselves. They have become champions, leaders, role models and even co-founders. I have sat and watched our team and community grow. We continually get to see the amazing women we are surrounded by come out of their shells so to speak and embrace that spark that has been burning inside of them.
Why? Because they knew we had an unwavering belief in them… they just needed someone to have their back and believe in them and encourage them to take chances and be fearless…You know what happened… they started believing too. Maybe I can do this? Maybe we can build a global brand? Maybe we can change the world? And above all else the biggest change I have seen, and it is a really beautiful thing to see, THEY NOW BELIEVE “I CAN BE A LEADER”… The thing is… they all know we are all working together towards a common goal, it is not about any individual, it is about the team and the community and they recognise that they are now key players on this journey to transform the equine industry. 42 countries in 4 days after launch. That is the Power of Community.
“Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”
To finish this up. Join us… Join the hundreds of women applying to write for Equitas. You don’t have to be a writer, none of us are!!! If you believe change is needed and you want to be part of creating that change, Join us. If you are a community advocate, you really believe in the power of community and you want to build others up and not tear them down… Join us.
If you want to transform the equine industry so your daughter or granddaughter doesn’t have to go through what you or your mother went through… Join us. If you want to be part of a truly empowering community and be part of our Equitas tribe… Join us. If you believe this is our moment, this is our chance and the time for change is here… Join us. Join #TheEquitasGeneration.
Until Next Time,
Shane
