The Each One, Reach One Initiative is not a program, but an approach that encourages everyone to share in building and connecting for a better community.

The initiative hopes to invigorate the connection efforts of community members from all sectors-businesses, schools, churches, families, neighborhoods and organizations and intestinally create the community everyone deserves.

The success of the approach is in the hands of each community member and their commitment to engage with others. How a community member engages and builds community relationships is up to them. The point is, is that he or she, young or old, understands that each of us has a consistent role and on ongoing responsibility to shape our community.

There are six Building Principals a community can use to help in the intentional creation of more connections.

1. We focus on strengths more than risks or deficits. We move beyond prevention and intervention and build strengths.
2. We engage with Youth more than create more services for Youth. We need to engage youth as partners instead of seeing them always as consumers of services.
3. As connection-builders, we need to focus on relationship building and less on creating more programs.
4. Building Connections is not a controlled or directed event – individuals and organizations shape their own approaches.
5. Everyone has a role and responsibility in connection building – it’s not just about professionals and parents – it’s about inspiring, inviting and equipping all types of community residents to contribute to the well-being of the community.
6. Talking about building connections has to be repetitive and consistent to allow for positive change. It’s long-term; not a quick fix. We need to recognize the importance of ongoing positive opportunities and relationships.