They say it takes a village, and Artis Stevens credits his village for helping create the life he has.

“We are not alone because we have each other,” he said. “We all have a village. We all need a village to be able to navigate, to be able to live, to be able thrive and to be able to grow into this world. It makes us better, and it makes us stronger, and it makes us who we are.”

Stevens shared the value of having a village during the annual Holmes-Hunter Lecture, held Feb. 18 at the Chapel.

As the president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Stevens understands the impact a village can have during childhood and beyond. That understanding began in his own childhood. The youngest in a large family and the son of a preacher, Stevens knew at an early age that if he did something wrong while out in the neighborhood, his parents would know by the time he got home.

“We didn’t have a lot of means, but what my mom and dad instilled in us is that we were rich in relationships,” he said.

Stevens said when the opportunity to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters came along, he saw himself in the program and in the energy, passion and enthusiasm of the young people the organization serves. The access and relationships Big Brothers Big Sisters provides help them build an even better future.

“It’s imperative for all of us to turn our mirror and our reflections on ourselves around that so that other people can see themselves,” he said.

Stevens also spoke about the importance of higher education and how attending UGA and earning his bachelor’s degree changed him. The experience of coming to a large university, especially from a small town, can feel overwhelming, but Stevens quickly found a community in Athens.

“Like most great villages, they did two things. They affirmed me, but they also challenged me,” he said.

Stevens believes that everyone has a responsibility to help their community thrive and grow.

“There is a price to pay for all the richness and the access and the opportunities we get, and that price is to put even more back into the world,” he said. “There is power in what we do. There is power in community.”

Giving back is important to Stevens’ family, and he ended by sharing their motto: ­­­­­­­­­“Be smart. Be strong. Be kind. Be you.”

“When you create that kind of power, you make yourself better. You make someone else better. You make your village better. You make the community better. You make the county better, and ultimately, we change the world,” he said.

Named in honor of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first African American students to attend the University of Georgia, the lecture is sponsored by the Office of the President. It has been held annually since 1985 and is designated as a Signature Lecture. Hunter-Gault and her husband, Ron, along with Holmes’ children, Alison Holmes Johnson and Hamilton Holmes Jr., attended the lecture.

“This annual lecture serves as an important opportunity for our community to honor two of the University of Georgia’s most iconic individuals,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It is an important part of our commitment to cultivate a vibrant exchange of ideas at the University of Georgia.”