200 SP Deligation Contest | What Would I Do If I Had 5,000+ SP.
@mountainjewel presented an interesting contest concept. They have ask Steemians to present their visions of their own potential on Steemit. What would we do as individuals to make the most of 5,000+ SP? Here is my entry in the contest. I even made a meme to go with it!
At just under two months I am still very new to the Steemit community, but with support from friends and interactions with the homesteading community I feel like I am doing well for such a short time. I have built my Steempower up to 100 with some Steem dollars in reserve, and I'm closing in one my 100 follower benchmark. Still, I am no where near being close enough to be truly impactful with my upvotes. I got a sense of the potential of Steemit very soon into my journey, and that early excitement is still holding on.
I have lived my life in the Appalachian foothills of East Kentucky. The county I am from, Magoffin, is ranked as the 8th poorest in the US and our Congressional district ranks last in health and well being, nationally. Eight of the top ten poorest counties are in East Kentucky. There are many factors that have led to this including dependency on the coal industry (an extremely complex issue), out-migration, opioid addiction fueled by corrupt pharmaceutical companies, and the list can go on. Some people are trying to preserve their communities and restore the health and prosperity of the region. More needs to be done, and there is room for more diverse strategies to be implemented. I see Steemit as an opportunity to build individual wealth for folks living here, as well as a way to build bridges connecting Appalachian communities to other communities across the world.
In addition to supporting the existing Steemit community, I have two objectives in mind if I were to suddenly become endowed with a high SP: recruit new Steemit members and fund community projects in my home town and surrounding area.
If I had 5,000+ Steem power, I would use it to attract new members to Steemit from my area and support their content, as well as raise funds to conduct community projects all around the region. I envision a community of folks supporting one another through the Steem Block chain by generating wealth through participation on Steemit, but also working together in their physical community by producing and trading goods and services and paying for those with Steem and Steem dollars.
My first idea to use Steemit as a means of community improvement was to build a small park in my home town of Salyersville. I spent part of my childhood living in the trailer park that sits next to the red box you see here. I used to play in these trees when I was kid. If the land owner is willing to cooperate, I would turn the wooded area into a small park with some simple playground equipment, picnic tables, and grills built with old chimney stone that sits on the property. There is some brush and damaged trees that need to be removed, and the trees could possibly be used to build the tables. The park would tie together a larger community that comprises the area, and could be tied in to existing footpaths, adding to the walk-ability of the town.
If I was unable to get this project going I would find a place in Salyersville to start a community garden. The town is not densely populated, and large sections of prime farmland still exist in the city limits. The area I would initially focus on is located across from the courthouse at the mouth of Cole Branch. This spot is an acre in size and could provide small plots for a large number of families. This would create an opportunity for people to spend time together and strengthen community relationships, as well offer them access to healthy food and exercise
In order for Steemit to thrive support from within the Steemit community is essential, but without growth from the outside the blockchian's full potential will never be achieved. I have tried in vain to recruit new members, and while I have managed to get several people signed up, none have started posting and interacting with the broader community. I believe a high SP would give me the influence I need to recruit more users, as I could guarantee their success and make it worth their time to participate. Without help early on from a whale who by some random chance I just happened to know, I would have probably became discouraged and quit. No one wants to spend hours on a post only to get a zero payout and no views, and I think that is what's holding back the folks I've talked to.
I truly believe Steemit has the potential to change people's lives on the community level, but this will require extending the benefits of the platform to applications outside of the blockchain. I think we need to use our earning and giving potential to build real-world economies that will allow the fluid movement of Steem from the digital world to the physical. Together, we can create new economies, strengthen our neighborhoods, and create prosperity for more people. If I had 5,000+ Steempower, this is what I would work to accomplish.