So what would a city of A’s, look like? What does the Citizen Report Card point to?
It’s a place where the majority enjoy a healthy weight and are not overburdened with diabetes or hypertension. Where sexual relations are bathed in love and admiration, and not manipulation, abuse, and disrespect. Where its residents are without the struggles of addiction to drugs or alcohol, and there is regular interaction with health professionals for advice on how to make healthy choices that invest in their future rather than treatment that addresses the mistakes of their yesterday.
Where families are whole, and regularly engaged in helpful conversations, in homes that are healthy, uncluttered, and free from environmental hazards such as lead and radon. Where families are financially fit, evidenced by bills that are always paid on time (late fees? What are those), and posses the confidence to sustain themselves through any short period of income challenge. Where families also walk with clarity about their purpose, with lifestyles that easily identify and execute the next right step. They also are prepared for emergencies, with the ability to support themselves for brief periods should there be a natural disaster or power outage, without panic and the need to rush to a store.
A place where people regularly invest in improving their knowledge and skills, appropriate to the needs of the time, and all with the ability to find a place where they can add value, and make contributions to our collective prosperity. Where the citizens make sure their environment is beautiful and clean, regularly recycling so that waste can be wisely managed. A place where the residents regularly communicate with their political leadership to help insure that the policies developed, distribute resources in a fair and equitable manner.
Most importantly, a city of A’s is a place where the dominant conversations surround the potential of our future and the practices and products that can get us there, and not the futility and frustrations of our past. Where the residents live in harmony with their environment, consistently making helpful choices, full of vitality, regularly walking in love and forgiveness (worth repeating), and ready and willing to lend a hand to a neighbor in need.
That is what a city of A’s look like. Thats a place where I want to live, and I will expend every good breath I have to make that happen. I so look forward to the day when “the D get an A”, and I can retire my hat. And I say Godspeed to all those who support a likeminded quest for a truly “SMARTcity”.