Lately I have been reflecting on the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” This proverb emphasizes our need for being patient when things are happening around us. The reason this has been resonating is reading the comments on Facebook about the new skate park that is coming to downtown Ishpeming. So much misinformation and negativity that has been leaking into these comments.

Growing up in Ishpeming, I heard and read of the town’s hay day. Almost like its golden age of the city. Sadly, Ishpeming doesn’t have 13,000 residents like it once had in 1910. Downtown is not what it once was and the industry is no longer as strong as it was. But, what Ishpeming has is a passionate group of people trying to revitalize the city. There seems to be this new energy at city hall in the short time that the new manager has arrived.

The reflection on “Rome wasn’t built in a day” we have to remember Rome had its fall. Through most of the Middle Ages the City of Rome was mostly a ruin of its past glory. The forum where commerce, political speeches, sharing of knowledge had become an area for cattle grazing. It wasn’t until the Renaissance that Rome started to regain a lot of its beauty and charm. That can happen here in our communities in Michigan.

Look at Detroit for example. The Grand Central Station restoration should be a beacon of historical restoration in our cities. We need to come together and help each other out. W.G. Mather once pushed the community to come together and do a “Fix up and paint up” campaign in Ishpeming so it could win a clean city award. Restoration will take time. Yes, change will happen but I believe with patience and kindness one will see a change in the community.