The next generation is watching

Terry Ward, Publisher

With school out for the summer, children across North Central Washington are spending their days a little differently. They're riding bikes through neighborhoods, attending summer camps, playing sports, helping with family businesses, accompanying parents to community events and spending more time with the adults in their lives.

And whether we realize it or not, they're watching us.

As a publisher, I've had the privilege of spending much of my career observing communities. I've attended city council meetings, school board meetings, ribbon cuttings, fundraisers, parades, sporting events and countless other gatherings that bring people together. Covering local news gives you a unique perspective on what makes a community work.

What I've learned is that strong communities are built less by grand gestures and more by everyday examples.

Children see those examples every day.

They watch how we treat the cashier at the grocery store. They watch how we speak about our neighbors. They watch how we react when things don't go our way. They notice whether we offer help when someone needs it or whether we simply walk by. They see how we handle disagreements, setbacks and successes.

Long before they learn about leadership, citizenship or community involvement in a classroom, they're learning those lessons from us.

As parents and grandparents, coaches and teachers, employers and community leaders, we often spend a great deal of time telling young people what matters. We talk about integrity, responsibility, respect and kindness. We encourage them to work hard, give back and make a positive difference.

But the truth is that our actions often speak louder than our words.

If we want young people to value service, they need to see us serving. If we want them to care about their communities, they need to see us showing up. If we want them to be respectful and compassionate, they need to witness those qualities in the adults around them.

One of the things that gives me hope about the future of North Central Washington is the number of people I meet who quietly make a difference every day. They volunteer at community events, support local nonprofits, coach youth sports, mentor young people, serve on boards and committees, and step forward whenever help is needed.

Most never seek recognition. In many cases, their names never appear in the newspaper.

Yet their influence reaches far beyond the work they're doing.

Every act of kindness sends a message. Every example of generosity teaches a lesson. Every demonstration of integrity helps shape the next generation's understanding of what it means to be part of a community.

In the newspaper business, we often focus on major decisions, important issues and significant events. Those stories matter. But some of the most important things happening in our communities never make headlines.

A father teaching his son the value of keeping a promise.

A grandmother showing her grandchildren the importance of helping others.

A coach demonstrating good sportsmanship after a difficult loss.

A volunteer spending an afternoon improving a local park.

These moments may seem small, but they are shaping the future one lesson at a time.

As we enjoy the summer months, attend festivals, visit parks, gather for family celebrations and celebrate holidays together, it's worth remembering that young eyes are paying attention.

The next generation is watching how we live, how we lead and how we treat one another.

Someday, today's children will become tomorrow's business owners, teachers, parents, volunteers, elected officials and community leaders. The values they carry into those roles will be influenced by what they see today.

The question is not whether they're watching.

The question is what we're teaching.

And if we want the future of our communities to be bright, perhaps the best place to start is by setting the example we hope they'll follow.

Terry Ward is the CEO of Ward Media and the publisher of NCW News, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror, The Leavenworth Echo, Quad City Herald, and the Wenatchee Business Journal. He can be reached at terry@ward.media.