AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, “There are those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what is happening.” In the Aberdeen community there lie many valuable and unique individuals who make things happen. One of those people is a creative, motivating, risk-taker named Tom Black. He is a man who believes that creativity unlocks the souls and by creating new things people are able to tailor them to their specific needs. He knows that this is the exact phase Aberdeen is going through, and that is what makes this city so great.

   Attending Northern State University in 1988 introduced him to this area, and he is currently the business owner of Prairie Home Inspector here in Aberdeen. Although Tom is devoted to our community, he did leave Aberdeen and explore other cities. For two years Tom lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and believes that because of this separation his love for Northeastern South Dakota and the people who live here was amplified.

   “In larger cities life is all about is spending a lot of money and a lot of time in cars. It’s a 40 minute drive to shop, a $40 baseball game, and a 40 minute wait at a restaurant. I think people need to leave this town and experience those events in order to appreciate what they have here,” he said. Tom talked a lot during our conversation about how necessary it is that people be exposed to other surroundings and cultures and bring those experiences into our own environment, and that is exactly what he did.

  He uses his capabilities and passions every day to help diversify our city. Not only does Tom believe Aberdeen should be culturally diverse, but artistically as well which will allow for more opportunities for the members of our community. He knows all we need to do is “Rally the troops and get heavily involved in volunteer activities: that’s when things will get done,” and Aberdeen will be the five-star city it should be, but right now there are still some changes in progress.

   In 1988, Aberdeen was booming with new entertainment and activities. The Lakewood Mall was brand new and the Aberdeen Community Theatre (ACT) was up and active. When Tom returned from Phoenix eight years ago there was no relationship between the community and the two post secondary schools in the area, and our city was no longer full of life.

   “I call it the Town-to-Gown effect. The [institutions of] higher education, the community leaders and the businesses in the area need a greater relationship. When they have this they will work much harder to involve university students with the community,” he said. And Tom “walks the talk,” as he is involved in creating two major scenes in Aberdeen that help those from all age groups within the community gather together and create film projects. These two events are the Fischgaard Short Film Project and the 48 Hour Film Festival. “My goal was to take skilled and interested amateur talent and eliminate procrastination to help them move into action.”

   The Fischgaard Project was very successful and will be coming back to Aberdeen on February 17th. Talented and creative filmmakers were discovered and were able to get valuable experience. He knows that many people would have never had the opportunity to get their start if it wasn’t for some of these events taking place in this area. He helps organizations with fundraising, is involved with The Big Dig, on and off stage with ACT, and with the Safe Harbor organization.

   To Tom, Aberdeen could be a much more diverse city with an assortment of artistic and cultural differences. “This community needs a greater openness to cultural diversity, open arms, and optimists to drown out the pessimists,” he said, “Our society is a bunch of slugs that relish in junk food and watch television. Get involved in your community.” Turning off the TV and giving back allows for self-growth and social development. Tom knows there are so many wonderful organizations that need help, but that a lot of people choose solidarity rather than becoming active.

   Although there are some things in need of extreme changes, there are also a lot of changes that have already taken place. Tom commends Mayor Mike Levsen for investing in multiple projects that help increase the value of our city. The new YMCA, Aquatic’s Center Water Park, and street improvements are some of the civic enhancements he applauds. “If we don’t spend money on our community we might as well board up and head out,” he said.

   But the future of Aberdeen is bright. “I have many wishes for Aberdeen. I would love to see sustained growth in population fostered through cultural diversity. I see the majority of citizens actively participating in volunteer work, and I hope to see Northern State University and Presentation College gain numbers in enrollment.” He also envisions top quality housing in our beautiful downtown area and sculptures covering the city.

   There are those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what is happening, and each one of these people thrives in every community in the world. Aberdeen has many people who strive to make it an exceptional place to live. Mr. Tom Black is one of these people, and he makes the A-List for the work he does.