Commonwealth assets keep a community happy and healthy. Some are plentiful and strong in Lubbock while others… could use some work.
The spirituality in Lubbock is related, in large, to the strong Christian faith of the Bible Belt. That being said, there are churches such as the Unitarian Universalists in Lubbock that accept all religions and spiritualities.
Being a farming area of the country, our foodshed is exceptional, but a lot of people do not know how to buy local. The best ways are to go to your local farmers markets (the Wolfforth Market is open every Saturday year-round), support your small business restaurants that use local produces, such as Crafthouse Gastropub, and support stores that carry local products like Drug Emporium.
Arts & Culture is a strong part of Lubbock, but there has been neglect towards artists of color for quite a long time. You can help with this by visiting and supporting non-profits like East Lubbock Art House and encouraging art education in your at-risk youth groups. Support schools that are at risk of losing their extracurriculars due to budget cuts, such as Estacado High.
The drainage repair that has taken place in Lubbock for over two decades allows a larger amount of rain water to run into nearby lakes. That being said, we are still in a drought and the Ogallala Aquifer is low. Try storing rain water to water your plants!
With the unnecessary amount of expansion to the South and Southwest Lubbock, our wildlife has seen huge displacements. Support groups like Lubbock Compact who strive to stop expansion and instead focus on revitalizing long-neglected areas of the town. This unnecessary expansion also puts an obvious strain on our mineral and soil cycle.
I have seen more and more wind turbines and solar panels around Lubbock in the past few months, way to go guys!
Being a farming area of the country, our foodshed is exceptional, but a lot of people do not know how to buy local. The best ways are to go to your local farmers markets (the Wolfforth Market is open every Saturday year-round), support your small business restaurants that use local produces, such as Crafthouse Gastropub, and support stores that carry local products like Drug Emporium.
The health system in America is a wreck and Lubbock is no exception. To help your fellow citizens, support clinics that take the majority of patients such as Grace Clinic, as well as fighting to move industrial producers away from neighborhoods in North and Northeast Lubbock.
The history of Lubbock has a lot of racism that has not been addressed and that needs to change. Zoning laws still support segregation, and this does not allow a large group of our population to feel a sense of place- on the other hand, it works to ostracize them. Organizations like the YWCA of Lubbock are fighting these by giving underprivileged areas the support they need to find leisure and recreation.
I love my local community and because of that, I will fight to better the areas we are struggling in and support the areas in which we strive.
