The Baha'is of Huron Valley, one hour north of Detroit, are a good example of how members of the Faith can make an impact in their community despite their small number. Coming together from several towns in the vicinity, the group of around 10 individuals has become involved in several projects to enrich and improve their neighborhood: helping coordinate the local Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Day celebration, conducting a social action speaker series at a library and adopting a stretch of road.

The Baha'is of Huron Valley, Michigan Working with the local school district, the Baha’is of Huron Valley, who constitute one of more than 10,000 localities in the United States where Baha’is reside, helped coordinate a march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year. Significantly, it marked the first time the community and its schools formally observed the holiday.

“Surprisingly, 1,000 people showed up,” says Linda Crawford, a 20-year Baha'i who lives in Highland, Mich. Encouraged by the response, the Baha'is then coordinated a series of programs presented by local Baha’is on topics corresponding to beliefs of the Baha'i Faith at the Milford Library in the Huron Valley.

At the first program, on June 24, Sharon Davis spoke on “Violence: Are We Desensitized.” On July 15, Ed Altuna spoke on “Unity in Diversity: Can We Live Together in Perfect Harmony.” On Aug. 5, Paula Drewek spoke on “Peace: The Inevitable.”

“We hope our involvement in the community will lead to fewer people asking, ‘Baha'i? What’s that?’” Ms. Crawford says.

In the meantime, those traveling on a three-mile stretch of Duck Lake Road in Crawford’s town of Highland can see another sign of Baha'i activity. Beneath the Adopt-A-Road logo a plaque reads “Baha'i Faith: Oneness and unity of mankind” to show that Baha’is maintain a two-to-three mile stretch of road.

“We blend well into the community, although our membership is more diverse than the community itself,” Ms. Crawford says. “So when an opportunity arises to foster diversity and be of service to humanity - even in small, simple ways - we jump at the chance.”