Community First

It’s not like she’s the only woman to ever have a baby. At 35. On her own. But Anne Lamott makes it all fresh in her now-classic account of how she and her son and numerous friends and neighbors and some strangers survived and thrived in that all-important first year. From finding out her baby is a boy (and getting used to the idea) to finding out her best friend and greatest supporter, Pam, will die of cancer (and not getting used to that idea), with a generous amount of wit and faith (but little piousness), Lamott narrates the great and small events making up a woman’s life.

You are meant to be in relationships that bring joy and connection—that help you know soul-deep peace and leave you feeling loved instead of lonely. Instead, surface-level friendships, filtered social media feeds, unresolved conflicts, and unhealthy relationships can often seem to harm our self-worth, spiritual growth, and mental health—and keep us from the very relationships that could bring that true connection.

Your Essential Guide to HOA Board Success: From Newbie to Leader! Are you a new HOA board member feeling lost in a sea of bylaws, budgets, and resident concerns? This book is your lifeline. Designed specifically for first-time board members, it demystifies the complexities of HOA management and empowers you to make a real difference in your community. Inside, you’ll discover: Clear explanations of governing documents and financial responsibilities. Practical strategies for effective communication and conflict resolution. Proven techniques for managing maintenance, enforcing rules fairly, ...

299 Days: The Community, the third book in the 299 Days series, reunites Grant Matson with his family after his wife, children, and in-laws accept that the only way to survive the Collapse is to flee the comfort of their suburban lives and join him at his isolated cabin in the woods. With riots becoming more violent, power outages more widespread, and the military crumbling, Grant and others throughout Washington State realize they must organize if they want to endure.

He’s lost everything. She’s afraid of what she’s got. Sometimes, first love needs a second chance... In the space of six months, Nick Hanson’s perfect life has fallen apart. Faced with the loss of his best friend, his fortune, and his job, he’s returned to the New Hampshire town of Fable Notch to wait out the disaster. For Nick, this is just an unfortunate interlude— a chance to hatch a plan that will have New York begging for his return. Until he crosses paths with an injured dog and his past comes knocking... For veterinarian Dani Vaughn, Fable Notch has always been home, so ...

Journey into the heart of South Sudan’s Nuer tribe with The Individual: The First Societal Unit, a captivating tale that weaves the rich fabric of African culture with the universal quest for identity and belonging. In this evocative narrative, follow Panyim, a young Nuer man standing at the threshold of adulthood, as he navigates the sacred rites and communal responsibilities that will define his place within his tribe. With each line etched on his forehead during the Gär ceremony, Panyim’s personal journey becomes deeply entwined with the collective destiny of his people. Guided by ...

In 16-year-old Mike Hernandez's life, only one thing is clear: Gay is not okay. His family's life revolves around the church, a church run by the vocally intolerant Pastor Myers, so Mike has resolved to spend his life in the closet. His only escape - besides the occasional, anonymous gay make-out session - is his art. He pours his complicated emotions into risque drawings he keeps in a secret sketchbook. A sketchbook he carries everywhere. When his sketchbook goes missing in the middle of Sunday school, Mike is sure his life is over.

In 1978, when Jamiyla was two years old, her mother, Ummi, quit her job, converted to Islam with her husband, and moved into an exclusive Muslim society in Brooklyn. Once inside the Community, the family was separated by its powerful and charismatic leader, Dwight York, who was hiding behind the name Imam Isa. Instead of the devotional refuge they’d imagined, the Community was a nightmare of controlled abuse and unspeakable secrets. Forty years later, Jamiyla was ready to excavate and understand a past buried in bad dreams, disturbing memories, and inexplicable rage.

Where does one go, you might ask, when the world falls apart? When the immutable facts of your life—the mundane, the trivial, the take-for-granted minutiae that once filled every second of every day—suddenly disappear? Where does one go in such dire and unexpected circumstances? I went home, of course.

After the death of her husband Jill is looking for somewhere to fit in to alleviate her lost feelings. She turns toward a local church and gets even more than salvation there!

As a response to the increasing violence in our culture, the widening ideological divides, and the growing gap in economic well-being, there is greater awareness that a deeper sense of community is desperately needed. But even as we acknowledge the need to build community, the dominant on-the-ground practices about how to engage people, civically and organizationally, remain essentially unchanged. We still believe community is built with better messaging, more persuasion, and social events for people to get to know each other better. All of which is naïve.

Engage Gen Z. Future-Proof Your Brand. In today’s fast-changing digital landscape, brands are struggling to capture the attention of Gen Z, a generation that values authenticity, collaboration, and community like never before. The old playbook of one-way messaging and transactional loyalty programs is no longer enough. Enter web3 marketing, a revolutionary approach that builds lasting connections through gamification, transparency, and a community-first ethos. This groundbreaking guide provides everything you need to thrive in the web3 era.

I can’t hear myself think. Loud noises were coming from next door. What the hell is that noise? My new neighbor, that’s what! I storm out of my office and bang on the door. The door swings open, “Well, hello, Beautiful! How can I make you mine?” he says. With an eye roll and frustration, I complain about the noise. He hands me some noise-cancelling headphones. What about my client?! He hands me another set of noise-cancelling headphones. "How am I supposed to hear her?" “Oh. Not sure.” He says. “With your ears, maybe?” His eyes watch mine; they twinkle with mischievousness I...

Ada always looks forward to her summers at the family villa with her mother and grandmother in a Turkish seaside town. It’s easy to leave life in California behind when the days are filled with boat rides, games at the beach, and long swims with friends. But no matter how much Ada feels she belongs in the country where her mother grew up, deep down, her connection to the culture seems as fleeting as the seasons. It’s certainly no help that her mother has lost her own sense of self, rootless and disoriented after so many years abroad.

What if the faith and courage of the first Christians could shape your life today? Are you searching for practical wisdom, deeper community, or a renewed sense of purpose in your spiritual journey? The story of the early church is more than history—it’s an invitation to discover simple, transformative lessons for everyday living. In this accessible and inspiring guide, you’ll learn how to: Grow in faith and spiritual resilience through the real stories of Acts and the first believers. Build authentic Christian community and experience the power of unity and generosity. Overcome fear, ...

As more and more people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders live in the community, opportunities for interactions with first responders (police, fire, EMT, etc.) have increased exponentially. Training for first responders has been non-existent or not always been optimal, however, and this has unfortunately led to misunderstandings with tragic consequences, including people with ASD being shot and killed and first responders being injured. In First Responders and People Diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum: What Each Needs to Know About the Other, Dr. Bobby Newman provides the information ...

Resilience & Psychological First Aid for PIOs is a unique guide for Public Information Officers, especially in public safety, who are navigating the high-stress world of crisis communication. Written by Nick Arnett, an experienced PIO who also has deep expertise in crisis response and resilience, this book offers a unique blend of practical strategies and evidence-based practices to enhance personal and professional resilience. The book delves into the unique challenges PIOs face, including delivering difficult news, managing emotional people, and handling media. It emphasizes the ...

In the rural town of Paxton, Alabama, a high school junior lives in the shadow of a father he never knew—a railroad stationmaster who died after being drafted into WWII just before his birth. Years after his father's death, a twist of legal fortune granted his family ownership of the abandoned rail yard adjacent to their home. It is here where the boy and his new girlfriend, Samantha, discover an incredible secret: the “Tullahoma,” a forgotten Civil War-era locomotive of historical significance tucked away in an old repair shop on the deserted property. Aided by their history teacher,...

Okay, trimming the expanded version by approximately 1618 characters requires significant condensing while retaining the core value proposition. Here's a much leaner version based on the expanded Option 1: Headline: Master Hazmat Response: The Volunteer Firefighter's Playbook for Awareness & Operations Body: As a volunteer responder, you're often first on scene for hazmat incidents where safe, effective action under pressure is critical. Are you equipped with the essential knowledge? Incorrect action can have severe consequences. The Volunteer Firefighter's Playbook: Hazmat Awareness and ...

Introducing Disaster Ready, the ultimate guide to surviving and thriving in the face of any disaster. This comprehensive eBook is your one-stop-shop for all things emergency preparedness. With a comprehensive 20-chapter guide, Disaster Ready covers everything you need to know to keep yourself and those around you safe and secure during disasters of all types. Chapter 1 lays the foundation for your knowledge by discussing the various types of disasters and how they can affect you. From there, you'll move into risk assessment to determine what disasters are most likely in your area and how to...