When the CHI Center was founded, we needed a tagline, a short phrase that captured our purpose. But all the good ones were taken:
- “The Happiest Place on Earth”
- “Lovin' It”
- “Just Do It”
- “America Runs on Dunkin' Donuts.”
That forced us to dig for a set of words that resonate deeply and that, together, are more than the sum of the individual evocative parts. After much thought, we decided on:
Research and Development For Community Health and Integrated, Personalized Care.
Research ― Systematic inquiry to generate new knowledge
Development ― Promoting the growth of all people involved
For ― In service to a purpose
Community ― A collective of people working to develop common purpose
Health ― There are many interesting definitions of health, including Seedhouse’s “the conditions that enable a person to work to achieve his or her biological and chosen potential.” I also propose “the ability to develop meaningful relationships and pursue a transcendent purpose in a finite life.”
Integrated ― Bringing together toward wholeness
Personalized ― Focused on the needs of the individual
Care ― Providing what is necessary for health, welfare, and protection.
All together, these words ― Research and Development For Community Health and Integrated, Personalized Care ― remind us how we pursue our contribution toward a humanized, equitable society.
In the end, I’m lovin’ it. Or at least I’m loving the people striving together in this direction.
Let’s just do it.
-Kurt Stange