The Hummingbird Network
Small Wings, Big Change: Join the Hummingbird Network.
The Hummingbird Network is a supportive community for those practicing or interested in Community Psychology. The aim is to foster connection, share knowledge and resources, and promote collective action.
To maintain a positive, empowering environment for all members, we’ve built these guidelines around key Community Psychology values.
1. Promote Social Justice by addressing the root causes of inequality and advocating for the fair distribution of resources. Through collaborative research, community engagement, and action, we work to empower marginalized communities, amplify their voices, and challenge systems of power that perpetuate injustice.
2. Respect Diversity Our community is stronger when we appreciate the unique experiences and perspectives of all members.
3. Importance of Community A strong sense of community is at the heart of our forum. We encourage you to engage in discussions, share knowledge, and support others. This is a space where every voice matters, and everyone should feel like they belong to a larger group that cares.
4. Promote Collective Wellness by helping each other identify strengths and abilities, and use them to make positive changes.
5. Empowerment and Participation Everyone has something to contribute! Involve each other in discussions, ask questions, and actively participate in shaping the direction of our community.
6. Collaboration through working together, sharing resources, and brainstorming solutions to challenges so we can achieve more than we could individually.
7. Empirical Evidence We hope that this community can, as much as possible, contribute to the evidence base for the positive impact of community psychology. Let’s use knowledge to improve both this community and the larger world around us.
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The Hummingbird and the Fire
One day, a massive fire broke out in a forest, and all the animals ran in panic, fleeing the smoke and flames. The fire was so intense that it seemed impossible for anyone to do anything about it.
As the animals fled, a small hummingbird—much smaller than the others—had a different idea. It flew toward the nearest river, scooped up a tiny drop of water in its beak, and flew back to the fire to drop the water on the flames. Then, it repeated the process again and again, flying back and forth between the river and the fire.
The larger animals, watching this, laughed and said, "What do you think you're doing? You’re so small, and the fire is so big. Your tiny drops of water won’t make any difference!"
The hummingbird, without pausing in its task, simply responded, "I’m doing what I can.
The Hummingbird Fable is often attributed to indigenous cultures in South America, particularly from the regions of the Amazon rainforest. The most well-known version of the story comes from the Quechua and Aymara peoples, as well as other groups from the Andes and the Amazon. In these cultures, the hummingbird often symbolizes qualities such as resilience, beauty, and perseverance.
The fable of the hummingbird flying back and forth to put out a great fire with tiny drops of water teaches that even the smallest actions can make a difference, and that each individual has a role to play in solving big problems.
See the story as told by the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, Kenyan activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize – and remind yourself that, even in the face of immense adversity, you can still act. We’ve been inspired by the late professor Wangari Maathai, Nobel peace laureate, who shares this story here.
