By: Terri London
February 4, 2025
“Civic pride refers to the feeling of honor, satisfaction and love that individuals share toward their city, town or community.” It is on this note that Antigua born community activist, Terri London is determined to bring the Caribbean community together; as she encourages everyone to feel a sense of pride by creating and maintaining healthy cities and towns.
Whereas Caribbean people uphold culture, music and heritage as their ancestral rights, London contends, that a cleaner environment is also a reflection of the inner being of consciousness. In the same way the Athenian polis, Italian city-states, the cities of the industrial revolution, and post-industrial cities represented key value and aspiration of local government, London firmly believes that civic pride for a better Caribbean must be bounded in notions of self-determination, cultural identity, citizenship and belonging.
In this regard, London registers her homeland of Antigua and Barbuda in the engagement of civic pride toward a better Caribbean. Since civic pride is also about active engagement in various types of social and civic activities that promote the development and the wellbeing of a community and its members, her many activities in drain cleaning, home beautification, tree planting programs and large-scale community clean ups in the Caribbean island of Antigua are apparent.
In essence, if civic pride for a better Caribbean must be championed as a key value and aspiration of local government, then civic pride for a better Caribbean must also go beyond individual action. Civic pride for a better Caribbean must also includes tourism and sustainability as well. Churches, schools, and community organizations must also aim in fostering a culture of cleanliness and collective responsibility, because belonging in a community/city is not only about sharing common memories, emotions, beliefs with other people. It’s also about being members of a larger group, be it a community, a neighbourhood, or a city, that share similar or common experiences, cherish common things, and share common backgrounds.
Thus, in her efforts to build a movement that extends beyond the shores of Antigua and Barbuda and reaches communities in the wider Caribbean, it is her hope that these changes will not only help produce a growing economy, but also heighten civic pride, self-determination, cultural identity, citizenship and belonging. Civic pride will also shape and reflect the political values of the Caribbean.
(Terri London is an accomplished accountant and community leader who is committed to serving the St. Mary’s north constituency on the Caribbean island of Antigua & Barbuda)
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