A saying goes that it requires a community, and Artis Stevens attributes his community for shaping the life he enjoys.

“We are not solitary because we have one another,” he expressed. “Each of us has a community. We all require a community to navigate, to live, to flourish, and to develop within this world. It makes us improved, and it fortifies us, shaping who we become.”

Stevens emphasized the significance of having a community during the annual Holmes-Hunter Lecture, conducted on Feb. 18 at the Chapel.

As the president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Stevens recognizes the influence a community can exert during childhood and thereafter. This realization began during his own upbringing. Being the youngest in a large family and the son of a pastor, Stevens was aware from an early age that if he misbehaved while playing in the neighborhood, his parents would be informed by the time he returned home.

“We didn’t possess many resources, but what my mother and father instilled in us was that we were affluent in relationships,” he mentioned.

Stevens acknowledged that when the chance to engage with Big Brothers Big Sisters arose, he saw a reflection of himself in the initiative and in the energy, fervor, and enthusiasm displayed by the youth the organization assists. The connections and resources provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters aid them in constructing an even more promising future.

“It’s essential for all of us to direct our mirrors and reflections to ourselves so that others can visualize themselves,” he remarked.

Stevens also addressed the significance of higher education, emphasizing how attending UGA and obtaining his bachelor’s degree transformed him. The experience of entering a large university, particularly from a small town, can appear daunting; however, Stevens swiftly discovered a community in Athens.

“Like most remarkable communities, they fulfilled two roles. They validated me, but they also prompted me to grow,” he stated.

Stevens holds the view that each individual has a duty to aid their community in thriving and developing.

“There is a cost associated with all the richness, access, and opportunities we receive, and that cost is to contribute even more back to the world,” he noted. “There is strength in our actions. There is strength in community.”

Giving back holds immense significance for Stevens’ family, and he concluded by sharing their principle: ­­­­­­­­­“Be intelligent. Be resilient. Be compassionate. Be yourself.”

“By fostering that type of power, you elevate yourself. You uplift others. You enhance your community. You enrich the county, and ultimately, we transform the world,” he concluded.

Named in tribute to Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the pioneering African American students to enroll at the University of Georgia, this lecture is backed by the Office of the President. It has been an annual event since 1985 and is recognized as a Signature Lecture. Hunter-Gault, along with her spouse Ron and Holmes’ children, Alison Holmes Johnson and Hamilton Holmes Jr., were present for the lecture.

“This annual event represents a significant opportunity for our community to celebrate two of the University of Georgia’s most legendary figures,” stated UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It plays a crucial role in our commitment to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas at the University of Georgia.”

The article Big Brothers Big Sisters president, CEO shares value of community first appeared on UGA Today.