Problem: My local community does not get along. The fire department, police department, and rescue station turn their heads when the others come. The town manager left before term about 2 years ago due to town politics. There are no family groups, playgrounds, or parks to promote residential interactions. It’s like residents stay in their homes and hide instead of coming out to communicate.
How am I going to solve this problem? My first response is I really don’t know. As I think deeper about the situation, I think I need to start with the problem: the community. I need to find out why people are not communicating. Why the separate departments are disconnected. I think I might send out surveys to residents to see how distant the town really is. I am not sure if I will get very far since the residents are not really talking. We’ll see.
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6 comments:
Stacey
It sounds like you have an uphill battle in tackling this issue. I would urge you to attack this personally in lieu of sending out a survey. Go and talk with respresentatives of the different departments. You might have better luck gathering information. I can't image your town is the only one that has this issue. What have other towns done? Can you use other towns as a resource.
Good Luck, I look forward to reading your paper.
Back in the mid-90s, I lived in Arcata, California, a small city of 15,000 way way up on the North Coast. The conservatives were about as conservative as you could possibly get -- mostly the old logging and dairy families. The liberals were about as far left as you can imagine -- it's the only city in America that's ever had a majority of its city council from the Green Party. They fought like dogs. And yet, stuff got done. Roads were repaired, schools were provided, water lines were maintained, Council meetings were loud but productive.
I think some large part of that had to do with the Plaza, the defining physical feature of the city. One open park block at the center of town, surrounded by the most diverse array of businesses you can imagine. Bookstores, furniture (both high end and unfinished/futon), the surf shop, the herbal remedy shop, three record stores, five taverns, a donut shop, the three most exclusive and expensive restaurants on the North Coast, a bead store, a head shop, an office supply store and a hardware store (among many others). It didn't matter who you were or what political values you held -- you went to the Plaza and participated in community life on a regular basis. We all learned that, even though we didn't believe some of the same things that others did, they were at least recognizable, safe, and not evil.
I agree with Scott that you'll make more progress talking than with a questionnaire. You may become the catalyst that brings these unstable chemicals into a solution. (And that would be a hell of an outcome for a class project, eh?)
I am glad you support the personal confrontations. I was unsure if I should send out the surveys or talking to the separate departments.
My undergrad thesis was a community center for my hometown. I tried to interview the local fire chief but he didn’t want to take time to talk to me. I was really disappointed in the towns support for my education especially since I have known these people all my life. So I am kind of hesitant to take another stab at talking to him again. (Maybe he’s the problem I need to work on) There has gotta be somebody else I can talk to at the fire department. I am planning on interviewing other departments also.
As for other towns Scott, I really don’t know what they are doing. One of my neighboring towns is known for their fire department. Maybe I should start there? That is a really good idea. So that is what I will do this week. Thanks for the suggestions Scott.
Herb, what is a head shop? I would absolutely love to bring this community together. I think every resident would benefit from a community environment. I designed a community center dreaming residents might want one. I guess I need to get people involved, luckily my ambition is high. I am helping raise money for a new playground for the school/town. I am determined to get the community involved!
I think it is great that you are tackling the challenge in your home town. It seems that the biggest part will be getting everyone to start participating. When it is such a small town, the center always seems to be a school or fire station (at least where I grew up). Do either of these venues provide opportunities for community involvement or interaction? I grew up in a community (still not big enough to be a town) and although we had no plaza or town center, the school opened its doors to many community events. Our fire station had monthly bingo nights and community dances. Although the neighbors were spread by miles, the idea of a center for community involvement gave everyone a sense of belonging.
Seems to me that you are going to have to run for mayor! Stacey 2008!
Oh well, the key on your research will be to figure out when and why these people got to be so distanced from each other. Probably reading some of the history of the town, where people originate from, learn about the culture(I know you are from there but sometimes take a little more effort to know more about your roots). Maybe you will find out something new direct you torward a solution to this problem.
Thanks for responding to my blog guys. We do have a fire station in the center of town but it is a volunteer department so the only time you see somebody there is when there's a call. The schools are within walking distance from the center of town. The school doors are locked up tight when the final bell rings.
This is the problem, we are not able to use the schools after hours. We do schools at my job and other schools totally utilize their facilities before, during, and after school hours. I don't know where to start for this problem, the principal, the municipal building, or something like a petition.
I don't think my town would like me being manager (mayor). I would make too many changes too fast. Thanks for mentioning town history. Even though I have lived here the majority of my life, there is still a lot to learn.
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