Changing The Conversation

Even with this political season now in full stride, a number of issues have been put on the back burner or just pushed aside for a later time.  However, through the eyes of many of us, life as we have always experienced continues unabated.  This includes gun violence, drug abuse, homelessness and high unemployment in the inner city.  The issues and challenges most communities were facing before this election season started continue to march forward without anything being done to address them or at best slow things down.  

Even with so much attention being given to the political process and who is running for office, some neighborhoods have been taking action and doing something to improve their relationships with local law enforcement.  One such initiative has been the ‘Police and Resident Listening Circles’ that are being held in the Harambee, Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods. These listening circles are being facilitated by the Zeidler Center with funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Racial Equality and Inclusion Grant. 

A design team consisting of residents, youth, police and Zeidler Center facilitators began planning the spring listening circles during the winter of 2015.  A total of three (3) listening circles are being held this spring and three additional ones are scheduled for this coming fall.  Each listening circle session includes local residents, youth as well police officers who are assigned from the local police precinct and who cover those neighborhoods.  During each listening circle session a number of questions are asked of all participants in which to respond.  At the end of each listening circle, participants are asked to fill out an evaluation and make any additional comments. 


These listening circles are designed with three goals, including: (1) listen deeply to each other and speak from the heart; (2) build relationships and trust and; (3) brainstorm ways to strengthen and support the community together.  At the heart and beyond these goals, other initiatives, recommendations, and ideas will be created by the residents and officers brainstorming together, and be led by the participants themselves.  So far, so good and this is without media coverage.  Here is a “bright idea” instead of us focusing on what people are saying outside of our communities, we just need to sit down and listen to those who live, work, play and worship in our neighborhoods.  What do you think?  I am listening!