Looking for a Way In

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” is a quote that is gaining considerable interest as more residents seek to become more engaged in helping their community to become better and stronger.  However, a number of residents find it difficult to help when they are not included in the decision making process.  Some residents see a system that is broken, policies off track and major decisions being made without any public input.  Still others feel left out of the entire picture until something bizarre occurs and then those in charge begin to ask for their help.  In the words of one resident...“Why ask for my help in a time of crisis, when my voice does not count when there is no crisis?”

Most concern residents want to be engaged when issues are being discussed that affect them and their community.  They resent when decisions are being made by people who do not live where they live, experience what they experienced, nor look like them.  For some it is the loss of trust, while some see race as a key factor.  Still others feel that a lot is being discussed behind closed doors, through side bars and at private lunches and dinners. All the while decisions are being made without any input from those who are going to be impacted.  

As we all know, too many of our communities are facing huge challenges and one solution does not fit them all.  Trying to find solutions that work on surreal problems is a job all by itself.  There is no single method or pathway to achieve success when dealing with an issue, but perhaps with more seats at the table anything is possible. And as the beat of challenging issues goes on for most neighborhoods, so does the number of opportunities to get involve open up. 
  

I know it is a tall order trying to keep all residents informed and engaged on a number of issues that are affecting their quality life.  And no matter how much information is shared on a consistence basic, social media, news feeds and email, it perhaps will never be good enough to please everyone.  This leads to only one conclusion, people must feel valued or important enough to be given an invitation to sit at the table when it matters the most, during good and bad times.  Just remember, that at some tables the seating is limited... so bring a chair.