In these days of Instagram and Snapchat, the element of surprise has been all but lost. As satisfying as it is to acquire something you’ve specifically asked for, it’s even more delightful to receive something you’d never thought to ask for but which you love just the same — isn’t it? Well that’s what the community support office and Sandy Browne, violence prevention integrator, are promoting along with members of the Integrated Delivery System. A nice surprise!
The collaborative partnership focuses on building a healthier community. People, who share a common place, understand community norms, history, values and interpersonal social networks to build trust define community.
On several Mondays each month, you’ll see the Mobile Morale wagon with caring supportive IDS agency contacts offering resources, information, promotional items and healthy snacks. “The entire troop is ready to have a sincere conversation about how or what Airmen and community members would like to see occur on Luke Air Force Base to build a healthier community.
“Another goal is to inform those about awareness or prevention months and associated events,” Browne said. “When we talk about building healthier communities, we mean the process of people working together to address what matters to them — whether it’s reducing violence, revitalizing playground equipment or promoting child health.”
To address what matters to community members, we need to change the conditions in which we live, with the hope that changing those conditions will change people’s behavior and increase positive outcomes. By getting out and having face-to-face conversations with the Airmen and the community, hopefully, people will feel more connected and understand that IDS members have greater empathy for others, are more trusting and are sincere about accomplishing cooperative results.
In other words, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being. IDS members believe that collaborative partnerships are key in improving our communities. To make them places where people are healthy, safe and cared for takes a lot of work. As community organizers, they know all too well they can’t do it alone. The ability to partner effectively with other individuals and organizations — both inside and outside the community — is essential to doing what they all call the passion of the job.
If you would like our team of IDS members to come by and surprise you with a Mobile Morale Monday visit at your work site, call 623-856-2716 or Browne at 623-856-4290.
