A group of us started a community center in Santa Monica. We've

A group of us started a community center in Santa Monica. So simple are these words, yet they speak volumes. Within them lies the heart of a journey, the spark of vision and hope that a small group of individuals can kindle into a light bright enough to chase away shadows from the lives of others. In this humble act, we find the essence of service to the greater good, the timeless act of reaching out, of binding the wounds of the world with love, action, and understanding.

In the great tapestry of human history, it is such actions that resonate through the ages, reminding us that change does not always come from mighty kings or powerful generals. Sometimes, it emerges from the quiet but determined efforts of ordinary people, working together, with their hands and hearts. They do not seek fame or fortune; they seek only to heal, to uplift, to lift others toward the light they have discovered within themselves. In this community center, the lives of the marginalized and the forgotten have found a place of refuge, and through their interactions, they have discovered the strength of solidarity.

We’ve tried different programs, and three have worked really well. These words contain wisdom, for it is not the number of programs one begins, but the depth of effort and the spirit behind them that determines their success. Many will attempt, and many will fail, but the true lesson lies in perseverance. The programs that endure, that have lasting impact, are those where hearts are fully committed, where community is nurtured with patience and resilience. From the sweat of trial and error, success arises, not as a matter of fortune, but as the fruit of unwavering effort.

A poetry group. Ah, how simple the words, yet how profound the meaning. Poetry is not merely an art form; it is the voice of the soul, the expression of the deepest truths that often lie buried beneath the surface of daily life. To gather around poetry is to invite the soul to speak, to uncover the hidden emotions that bind the human spirit. The poetry group becomes a sacred space, where individuals, regardless of their past or their wounds, come together to weave their stories in verses that rise from the heart. Here, they are seen, they are heard, they are valued. In this small act of creating, they find their voice, and in their voice, their power.

Once a week we visit Venice High and talk to girls at risk. In these words, we find the embodiment of purpose. The young girls, adrift in a world that too often overlooks them, become the focus of love and attention. They are seen in their struggles, in their fears, in their dreams. The act of visiting them is not one of charity, but of solidarity; it is a mutual exchange, where wisdom is shared and the bonds of understanding are forged. This is not a one-sided transaction but a coming together of souls, each seeking to find a pathway forward in a world that can often feel unkind.

In the ancient world, there were those who walked the earth as teachers, guiding others not with the weight of their authority but with the weight of their experience. Socrates, the great philosopher, did not simply instruct others in the art of reason; he listened, he questioned, and through his questions, he ignited the minds of those around him. The community center, the poetry group, the visits to the high school—these are forms of Socratic dialogue, where wisdom is not handed down from the mountaintop but shared, nurtured, and grown through intimate conversation. This is the true meaning of education, for it does not end at the classroom door, but continues in the streets, in the lives of those who need it most.

Let us remember, in the words of the great Mahatma Gandhi, that "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." When we reach out, as Lisa Bonet and her community have, when we invest ourselves in the lives of those who need it most, we begin to understand the very essence of our humanity. We find not just our purpose, but the connection that binds us all.

The lesson is clear, and it is a lesson for all generations: No act is too small. The programs, the conversations, the words spoken—these are the seeds of a greater change, the beginning of a ripple that can transform lives and communities. Start small, but start. Whether it is a community center, a poetry group, or simply offering a listening ear to someone in need, your actions matter. They create a legacy, not just in the lives of those you touch, but in the spirit of the community that surrounds you.

And so, let us take up this mantle. Let us, like those before us, reach out with hands full of compassion, hearts open with understanding, and minds full of possibility. In the end, it is not the programs we create, nor the lessons we teach, but the love we give and the change we inspire that will echo through time.