Collaboration is the key to moving forward

Go alone, go fast. Go together, go far.

It is said over and over but cannot be said enough.

The quick and easy way to get something done is to just do it yourself. Do it alone and you know it will be done the way you want it and done right. Ask any wife who asks her husband to load the dishwasher.

But that is not sustainable. We can only do things alone for so long before we suffer from burnout and fatigue. We can only get so many things done before we run out of time.

Going alone doesn’t bring in new ideas. One person simply cannot understand or know everything there is about a subject. By bringing multiple people together, we benefit from others’ talents. Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses. By collaborating, we capitalize on those strengths and overcome those weaknesses.

Going alone doesn’t get buy-in for a project. People are more likely to support something that they had a say in, something that reflects their view, something that shows they were listened to and heard.

Going alone doesn’t bring in multiple perspectives. Everyone brings something different to the table. Who knows where the next great idea will come from? But by bringing people from various backgrounds to the table, we have a greater chance of making something happen.

And thankfully, we are seeing more and more collaboration in our community.

The McCook Mural Project is a great example of collaborating to make a dream a reality.

After learning about the movie “Called to the Walls” through the Nebraska Arts Council, Joann Falkenburg was inspired to bring the film and the concept to McCook. But she knew she couldn’t do it on her own so she gathered local artists, local supporters of the arts, and supporters of the community. Together, these people worked to develop what the community mural should look like. And it wasn’t easy.

The easy route would have been for one person to come up with a design and paint it on a wall.

Instead, there were many meetings to develop a plan. Listening sessions were held to determine what elements should be considered for the mural. Weekends were spent drawing ideas on the paper lining the walls at the Keystone, followed by the removal of ideas on the paper lining the walls at the Keystone. And countless hours were needed to work through the logistics of professional artists working with dozens - and ultimately 100s - of local artists. 
If you haven’t stopped by or driven past the McCook Mural on West First Street in downtown McCook, try to do it in the next few days. Just to see the number of paintbrushes needed to provide a variety of concepts and to accommodate all the volunteers. To see the variety of paint colors being mixed in tubs to create a magical yet realistic effect on the wall. To see the sheer size of the mural which covers nearly half a block in vivid, swirling beautiful in all shades imaginable.

And then stop by Saturday for the community celebration, 2-5 p.m. and the dedication at 3 p.m.

And there are other projects were are happening because of collaboration.

McCook’s outdoor pool project is moving along and should break ground for removal within the next month or two, thanks to the approval of the bond issue last fall. The bond was supported and promoted by the McCook Wellness Initiative, a group that includes the Community Hospital, the City of McCook, McCook Public Schools, the McCook Community Foundation Fund, McCook Community College and the McCook Pickleball players.

The McCook Philanthropy Council has brought together several non-profits to promote planned giving and estate planning, because of the importance of keeping local dollars in our community. This group is made up of MCFF, the Community Hospital Health Foundation, Hillcrest Foundation, the YMCA, McCook College Foundation, Norris Institute and the Graff Charitable Foundation.

And perhaps the biggest collaboration happens every November during the annual Big Give. Formerly known as Big Give McCook, the event is now known as the Southwest Nebraska Big Give with nearly three dozen non-profit organizations coming together to support each other and to support our communities. And the Big Give doesn’t even happen without nearly a dozen volunteers from local businesses and organizations coming together as the Community Chest.

Rather than working in silos, we all benefit by collaborating. By working together, we can make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home.