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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com
February 2021
IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
GUEST COLUMNIST
CIRA RICHARDSON Transform Rockford
Great neighborhoods vital for a transformed community
2020 was a tough, tough year. At a neighborhood planning and revitalization level, there were challenges, but I believe that we have emerged stronger and more resilient, ready to roll up our sleeves and continue moving our great neighborhoods forward. There may be some hesitancy walking into 2021, but a new year always brings in new hope, new ideas and new beginnings. Great Neighborhoods sees 2021 as an opportunity to make even bigger strides towards our goals. We see opportunities to help reimagine and rebuild our neighborhoods while continuously adapting to their needs, especially concerning COVID-19. Yes, the pandemic brought its challenges, but it also brought out some really great things too. A few of the highlights at the local, regional and national levels include: ■ Helping neighborhoods and cities realize assets they did not know they had or assets that were forgotten about or underutilized ■ Businesses capitalized on innovation to deliver goods and services ■ Neighborhoods utilized empty spaces and green spaces ■ The pandemic highlighted the most economically vulnerable and the need to continue to focus on needed services in those neighborhoods An even greater opportunity that came from the pandemic is the ability to push the envelope to think differently and do things differently. Conversations and ideas that may have been far into the future are right on our doorsteps. For example, we can look at things like: ■ Flexibility and innovation in how we approach the built environment we create ■ Connectivity — socially, physically and digitally — and advocate that
all neighborhoods opportunities
have
the
same
■ Capitalize on opportunities to create stronger, local economies and growth ■ Engage the faith communities to creatively explore how their land and buildings can be used to serve the broader neighborhoods ■ Investments in empty green spaces, parking lots, etc. ■ Create more neighborhood assets
Everyone Can Help Great Neighborhoods is a grassroots program available to help our residents transform their neighborhoods. The program is available to help neighborhoods think about what they want to accomplish, discover their assets that can help them and leverage those assets into successful projects. Together, we co-create action plans with our neighborhoods, and help connect all the dots and utilize networks and resources to move projects forward. As we shift our mindset to 2021, we look to our neighborhoods, along with our many partners, to take time for selfreflection with our eyes towards renewal. We need to remember and believe in the power of our local strengths and talents to help shape the future of our neighborhoods and our community. We can reimagine and rebuild one neighborhood at a time with everyone’s involvement. Connect and get involved with Great Neighborhoods to impact the neighborhoods around you by emailing cira@transformrockford.org. Cira Richardson is program director for Transform Rockford’s Great Neighborhoods program. The views expressed are those of Richardson’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
CARMEN KELLERMAN IGNITE
Winter blues got you down?
For many people, myself included, winter can be a time where motivation is low, the urge to lay in bed all day is high and your energy levels feel nonexistent. Wintertime makes it near impossible to get anything done. Below are some tips and tricks I have discovered over the years that help with the winter blues. Before I share those tips, I want to state that I am not a doctor or a trained professional. The tips I have below are just simple everyday “hacks” that I have found help me through the wintertime. If you think you have more than just the case of the winter blues, please contact your doctor or a trained professional. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has plenty of trained professionals and resources that can help. Tips for making the winter blues a little easier to cope with (especially during a pandemic): 1. Get light in. If you have many windows in your home, make sure you open up all of your curtains. Let the light in. Even if it is snowing outside, the brightness of outside is still better than the darkness of keeping the curtains closed. Don’t have many windows, or work in an office? Try using light therapy. Use bright LED light bulbs or find an LED lamp online to make your space brighter. 2. Don’t oversleep. If you are back working in the office, then this tip may not apply to you. If you are still at home, keep to your schedule. Once you mess up your sleep schedule, it is hard to get back on track. A disrupted sleep schedule can cause you to have more difficulty concentrating, learning and communicating. Create a bedtime routine that has signal tasks in it, i.e., turning off your phone for the night, drinking tea or reading a book. 3. Take walks when you can. I know winters here in Illinois can be brutally cold and just downright nasty. However, when
the weather is not too bad, bundle up and get outside for a walk, even if it is for five or 10 minutes. The fresh air and sunlight helps boost your mood. 4. Fill up your social calendar. During a pandemic, it may seem difficult to fill up your social calendar; however, it is not impossible. Try to have virtual game nights with friends or family. Have Zoom lunches or dinners with friends. If you think it is weird to eat on camera, then have a cooking night instead, where you cook a dinner together. Have a virtual mixology night. Take a hike with friends or family (safely of course). Be creative and have fun when planning events. 5. Exercise. Do an at-home workout that you find on YouTube. Use your gym equipment, if you have it. Do some yoga. Have a solo dance party. Just get up and move. Moving helps keep your brain happy. 6. Organize and clean. Having a cluttered home or even just office can be mentally exhausting. Organize rooms one by one, starting with the room that you see first thing in the morning. Make sure you do not start your day looking at a cluttered mess. If you are organizing your office, take it zone by zone. Don’t try to do everything at once. It can be overwhelming. 7. Have a strong support system. Beating the winter blues does not have to be a solo activity. Keep a strong support system to help you on the days that seem to be more difficult than others. Sometimes a simple phone call from a friend or family member is all you need to get yourself motivated for the rest of the day. Remember find what works for you and keep pushing through; summer time will be here before we know it! Carmen Kellerman, formerly Brenz, is event & program coordinator and IGNITE coordinator for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
