Small Movements Win: Ben Spellman on Building Real Community

What separates real community work from something that only looks good online?

Ben Spellman, founder of Good Vibes Movement, joins Corey Dion Lewis for a conversation about service, consistency, trust, forgiveness, and the relationships that hold communities together. Ben explains why community work does not need to be complicated, how small movements can create lasting change, and why the work must continue even when nobody is watching.

Ben Spellman believes community work begins with a simple choice: show up for people consistently.

In this episode of Move the City FWD, Ben joins Corey Dion Lewis to discuss the experiences that shaped his approach to service and the work of Good Vibes Movement in Des Moines.

Their conversation examines the difference between operating a business in a community and actively serving that community. Ben shares why accessibility matters, how donation-based programming brings people from different backgrounds into the same space, and why small, sustainable movements can outlast organizations built around rapid growth.

Corey and Ben also discuss social media, the public representation of Black men, rebuilding trust across neighborhoods, and the role forgiveness plays in community collaboration.

In this episode:

Why community outreach is really about people helping peopleHow consistency creates trustThe difference between community service and community marketingWhy accessible spaces help people cross social and economic boundariesHow small movements create lasting changeWhether you would continue serving without social mediaWhy forgiveness affects a community’s ability to work togetherChanging the stories people see about Black menTurning difficult experiences into something that helps othersEpisode highlights:

00:00 — Meeting Ben Spellman

01:29 — How Ben’s upbringing shaped his service

05:22 — Why consistency changes communities

08:15 — Rebuilding connection after communities become dispersed