Community Engagement Blog

Checking out what United Way is up to!

2008-07-22T09:30:00.014-05:00

We're midway through our 6 month "Tools for Community Change" workshops and this month we want to inform you how we want to change community conditions through the areas of Education, Financial Stability and Health as well as how we're going to engage 100,000 people in this change. Interested? Come check it out...

Community Innovation Workshops - Presented by the University of Texas, United Way Capital Area andHands On Central Texas.

Changing Community Conditions
United Way's purpose is to engage and unite the community to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and advance the common good. Come find out how United Way plans to change community conditions through the areas of education, health and financial stability, and to create opportunities for individuals, families and neighborhoods to succeed.

Thursday, July 24, 2008
6:00-7:30pm
United Way Offices: 2000 E. MLK Jr. Blvd, Austin, TX 78702

To register for this session, go to http://www.handsoncentraltexas.org

Thanks,
Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas

Climate Change: Dr. Sanchez & our own Public Innovator, Rod Reyna

2008-06-30T12:42:00.003-05:00

I just saw these posts on the Statesman's Readers Blogs. Dr. Sanchez, who moderated our last Echoes of Color Film Series talks about the connection between public health & climate change. And our very own Public Innovovator, Rod Reyna talks about how he cut his electric bill by 50%!

You see the video with Dr. Sanchez here and read Rod's interview here.

Mando

Changing the World - One Covered Dish at a Time!

2008-06-19T09:39:00.004-05:00

How's this for a recipe for change...take a heaping quantity of do-good organizations, add a generous serving of caring citizens, mix in delicious food and great conversation and voilà! You get the Austin Progressive Potluckers, who’ve cooked up a fun and easy way for people to connect with non-profits and grassroots organizations that are working hard to make a positive difference in our community.

Every month, the Potluckers are hosted by a different group, providing people a chance to learn more about the organization while enjoying homemade food in a relaxed setting. In May 2008, the United Way Capital Area played host the Potluckers and over 30 people came out, hungry to know more about United Way’s new direction. Mando Rayo did a great job of recapping United Way’s focus areas and engagement initiatives and answering lots (and lots) of questions.

The Austin Progressive Potluckers has been going strong since 2002, growing from a few folks to a network of almost 700 people throughout the Austin area. Each gathering is a unique and fun way for people to connect, build relationships and learn more about efforts they may want to support, helping to realize the Potlucker motto of “Changing the World - One Covered Dish at a Time”.

Check out the group’s website at http://www.austinprogressivecalendar.com/potluck.htm and join the next potluck – everyone is welcome!

Diane Miller

Austin Progressive Potlucker

Public Innovator

Community Innovation Workshops - Networks and Networking

2008-06-18T21:27:00.004-05:00

Creating change is not that easy but luckily for us, we have some good workshops that can help you make the change you wish to see in your world!

Come to our next Community Innovation Workshop - Presented by the University of Texas, United Way Capital Area and Hands On Central Texas.

Networks and Networking
Learn different types of networks, how to cultivate them, and how to use them. This workshop emphasizes developing meaningful, sustainable relationships and using those relationships as the basis for effective collaboration.

Thursday, June 26, 20086:00-7:30pm
United Way Offices: 2000 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78702
Register Here!

Check out the full Workshop schedule here or go to our website at http://www.handsoncentraltexas.org/.

Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas

Inside The Community Studio

2008-06-17T21:45:00.006-05:00

Every month, a group of about 15 Public Innovators get together on a Saturday morning to discuss 3 year projects we all signed up to do. Here's a short glimpse into what we're learning and how our brains function on the weekend! Not bad for a non-techie (minus the annoying bzzzz)...

Mando

It’s the little things that go a long way

2008-06-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to serve as a delegate to the Texas Democratic State Convention. At the convention, I spent a great deal of time observing – taking in all the different type of people that were present and watching how they did or did not interact with one another. As I experienced each day, I began to relate my observations to community engagement work.

We all know that trust is very important in community work and is something that takes a great deal of time to build, but takes no time at all to break down. Words, behaviors, and how we show up can affect how others perceive us and our intentions. While for the most part, people interacted well with one another, there were a few occasions I saw that demonstrated how truly fragile trust is.

As people were campaigning for national delegates or seats on certain committees, you often found them walking the aisles, talking to the people in the room about why they should be a nominee. Whether intentional or not, there were some times where candidates walked by, talked to one group of people, and overlooked the other group that was seated right next to them. The immediate reaction of the overlooked group was one of defensiveness and anger. Their reaction was “did you see that…they just walked right past us and did not take the time to talk or hand us their literature”. Perception becomes people’s reality and the little act of talking to someone about why they should be a nominee could have meant a great deal. As we engage in community work, it is important that we observe ourselves and who we do or do not interact with and what that means about us.

At other times, you saw people react out of frustration without taking the time to think about what they were about to say. And instead of taking a deep breath, re-assessing what was going on, and reacting in a way that was respectful of all…they reacted with anger, treating people with disrespect. Immediately thereafter, people disengaged, turned instead to their neighbor, and participated on a much lower level than before. Words are powerful and speaking with respect shows that you have high regard for those in the room and those you work with.

We all come to this work with great intentions. But intentions are not enough. We must tread carefully as we meet others for the first time, get to know them, and engage them in this work. And we must self-examine our own behaviors and interactions and make sure that we are interacting in such a way that builds and maintains trust. For it is the little things that go a long way.

Building the Learning Environment

2008-05-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

For the last few weeks, I have been giving a lot of thought to this concept I use in trainings called “Building the Learning Environment”.

In the VISTA work I do, we spend a great deal of time on this – getting to know one another, listening for real understanding, setting expectations, and providing an understanding of what we are going to do in the time we have. It is in the first two parts that I find are the most powerful. This particular training is 1 week long. And even though the content of the remaining training is rich, it is the getting to know one another and listening for real understanding that most often makes the greatest impact. Each time I do this training, I reflect on that part in particular because each group is made up of the most diverse group of people of which you have ever been a part and yet the same thing happens over and over again – people who would have never interacted with one another before, whom come from all economic, racial, and regional backgrounds leave that morning time with a new and better understanding of one another, what motivates them, and what that means for this work. And it is from that point forward that the real understanding and change happens for them.

So tonight I just left the Community Studio at the United Way where we talked about creativity and innovation. And much of the discussion was on how we rarely stop – listen – and learn. We are all so driven to getting straight to the solutions that we forget there are others who not only have a stake in what we are doing but also have an investment in the end outcome.

I started to think about the struggles programs I work with have – they are often uncomfortable with the “stepping back”…with the learning process….with the “unknown”. And then I thought about one of Rich Harwood’s recent Blog entries where he states he would love to get someone to fund a large amount of money to a project they know will fail. What if we knew at the end that failure was the only option, so we could be as creative as we wanted to be and make as many mistakes in the process? What if that allowed us to take our time, to learn from others, and to just go crazy with the possibilities? What if that was the norm instead of expecting instant gratification, or working towards some arbitrary standards, or thinking we have to always aim for perfection?

In this way…building the learning environment has a whole new meaning.

Press On...

2008-05-22T15:13:00.010-05:00

...because there's a lot of work to be done in relation to community engagement. Very few people appear to be doing it. Putting ideas into action is hard, especially when it involves collaboration and partnerships, which are essential. Those that are doing this work are often learning as they go and using whatever resources are available or that they've gained from someone else. It's hard for those learning things "hands on" to train others, although nothing is impossible--to do the work of bringing people together for the common good, to bring about change in the community, especially since it takes endurance, a lot of passion, a humble heart, flexibility, tolerance, a thick skin, and training wherever you can get it. If you get a buddy, partner organization, or adviser to journey with you and champion the effort, this often helps and you learn from each other and the experience.

In terms of the work that needs to be done, there's going to be people who are grateful one day and ungrateful the next--sometimes they are the same person(s). They don't necessarily understand what is being done and why. The traditional models may be all they know and words like conversation, negotiation, and consensus are foreign or seem inefficient and they worry it will make things take longer. It is true that listening to people and developing relationships can take time. But sometimes doing things quickly though can end up taking twice as long or more when not getting people's opinion or hearing their stories only makes people angry or suprised that something appears to have been pushed through. Then a process may have to start all over.

Be prepared when when your group offers to bring the voice of the community to bear on issues, based on your group's experience in working with various groups in the community and receiving input from them on issues/concerns. Public officials tell your organization to convince the people to come to them instead and tell them what they think, as opposed to them doing outreach to those who may not ever step foot in a government meeting. Public officials may ask what authority your group has and may express doubt or dismiss what you do get to share with them. Then it hurts when your organization's leaders often have to stand alone, beause no one stands behind them during critical moments, when they are trying to make a case or take a stand for something. People recover from that, especially when people see that the community engagement work being done is making an impact--when community leaders/officials start using the same language/terms that have filtered from the grassroots to the top--when they make positive statements of how the work being done is good for the community. You have to give people time to accept change and to see the big picture or the reasons for doing things a different way, or the reason for doing things in conjunction with other people and organizations that people aren't used to working with.

Along the way, organizations that work in the area of community engagement may become successful in becoming an information clearinghouse to the community and a convener when it comes to pulling together the community for dialogue and deliberation on issues and concerns important to the citizenry. Over time, your organization's leaders may find that many groups are trying to do what your organization is trying to do, although each group may be at a different stage or dealing with different issues, but are following a similar, yet self-learned template. Join forces with these groups. Partner with bigger ones (like the United Way), to utilize their strengths, their network, and their people and material resources. Your group can't do what they're doing forever. Some leaders can't always make it to the "promiseland." There always needs to be a plan for who is going to replace those in leadership--takeover what they are doing. The word sustainability applies here.

In relation to your passionate group you work with, and this probably applies to just about any group, some people may want to be a leader and not a follower. Some may not want to wait to lead and some may never step forward at all, even if a position will have to remain open or leadership will have to be recycled (officers trade positions). Things can often get dysfunctional or simple things that people do annoy one another or people take things out of context. You're confused yourself because when teams form and people take a crack at leading, you take the liberty of stepping in to lead when you feel it is necessary as opposed to letting someone make a mistake and learn a lesson from it. You find that mob mentality (organized chaos, leadership by committee) sometimes works and sometimes it doesn't.

Whether it's the mob leadership or other fellow leaders or citizens stepping forward to lead, there's a saying (and I'm paraphrasing), "if you're upsetting both sides, you're doing something right." If you're only upsetting one side, then you may have to recalibrate. Whatever the case, if you compare where your community started compared to where it is today, there probably is a difference because a group of individuals decided that community engagement was the way to go--to bring together all the isolated community groups, neighborhoods, and officials to move forward together--to do community problem solving and find solutions together--to develop a common language, shared goals, and sense of community. You may not be able to see the results today, but in hindsight you will be able to inventory what has been accomplished or attempted and then build on that, building on capacity and social capital, building on hope, even it is one baby step after another. Even if there are times that it feels like the community or a portion of it is taking two steps back and then one step forward, press on...

-Rod Reyna

Equipping Citizen Leaders

2008-05-21T22:51:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow, we're kicking off the Community Innovation Workshops. Tommy Darwin, the brainchild and my partner in "community engagement" crime is leading the session. We're starting with INNOVATION & CREATIVITY and it seems like we've got a lot of citizen leaders (40 of 'em) out there wanting to make change in our community! There's still room if you your bold and innovative enough! Here are the details...

Innovation & Creativity
Coming up with a good idea is difficult—putting that idea to work is even harder.
Learn how to discover the needs and aspirations of the community, generate ideas to engage those needs and aspirations, and develop a plan for putting your ideas into action.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
6:00-7:30pm
United Way offices: 2000 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

To register, go to the Hands On Central Texas website!

See ya there!

Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas

A Latino Perspective

2008-05-08T22:15:00.005-05:00

Today was a pretty big day for me and a lot of Latinos in the greater Austin area. The Austin City Council approved a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and we've been making a lot of progress on our Hispanic Community Engagement efforts. I also had lunch with Rod; we discussed the opportunities these initatives are going to bring to our communities. As a Latino, I feel very good about the progress we made today and still think we have a long way to go. We as Latinos have to, no, we must step up and make our voices heard. Rod mentioned in our conversation that too many times, Latinos, among other ethnic groups are left out of the discussion when dealing with race - it's always a black and white thing. So we as Latinos must find ways to bring our voices to the table and do it in a way that brings people together and moves us forward. And as we move forward, we need to bring our people with us by creating more leadership opportunities and opening doors for them. When we do this, not only will the Latino community prosper but the community as a whole.

Enough of my ramblings...now I'm going to put Rod on the spot. I'm still waiting for him to give us a write-up. Mibbe this will give him some good old fashioned Latino guilt. Si Se Puede Rod!

Mando

Advocate for a City of Austin Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative!

2008-05-07T18:03:00.002-05:00

Friends of United Way Capital Area & Hands On Central Texas,

As many of you know, we started working on the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Initiative last year. We've taken some great first steps in learning from the Hispanic/Latino community and are in the process of gathering information from this community to publish our study and engagement tool, Making the Connection: An Examination of Volunteering & Community Engagement in the Greater Austin Hispanic/Latino Community.

With that said, we have been working with Council Member Mike Martinez's office to support a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative. On Thursday, May 8th, Council Member Mike Martinez is leading the efforts by sponsoring an Austin City Council Resolution (Item#50) to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and directing the City Manager to incorporate into the Fiscal Year 08-09 Budget specific line items to support this effort.

We ask that you help us advocate in the following ways...

Attend the Press Conference, tomorrow Thursday, May 8th - At approximately 9:30am, Council Member Martinez will be hosting a press conference at City Hall to formally announce this new community initiative. We need your attendance and participation at the press event.

Attend the Austin City Council meeting at 10am (following the press conference) - At approximately 10am on Thursday, May 8th (also at City Hall), the Austin City Council will address Item#50 during their consent agenda deliberations. We need your action and attendance to encourage the Austin City Council to vote in favor of Item#50.
Spread the word to help fill the Chambers - Forward this email to your networks!
Email Austin City Council members asking asking for their vote on this important item. Included is the link and directions to successfully send one email to the entire Council.
Go to http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm
Once on the website, please include your email address. The subject line should read: Subject: “Support Item#50 to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative"
Incorporate your own comments or simply ask the Council to: Please vote in favor of Item#50 to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative.

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!

Si Se Puede!
Mando

Armando Rayo
Director, Hands On Central Texas
UNITED WAY CAPITAL AREA
www.handsoncentraltexas.org

tel 512.225.0360 : fax 512.482.8309 : cell 512.785-0447
Be the Change. Volunteer.

One Day of Caring is all it takes

2008-04-29T19:39:00.003-05:00

I just posted the highlights from our Spring Day of Caring on our other blog. Check out the civic action happening before your eyes....

Another Great Day of Caring

Enjoy!

Mando

The Paradox of Time

2008-04-24T08:34:00.006-05:00

I've been an organizer all of my life, from organizing my friends as a young person through all of my professional life. But what I know and keep learning is that the real strength of community is built over time and through putting your time in. Doing the good and important work of public innovation will take time. In my current position with the City of Austin as a neighborhood planner we spend a lot of time talking about stakeholders. Who are the stakeholders? Which stakeholders do we need to invite? Which stakeholders are not represented? How do we get more stakeholders involved? One of the stakeholders that we frequently forget, but is ALWAYS at the table, is the stakeholder of time. A frequent criticism of the the neighborhood planning program is that we move too fast and don't give the stakeholders enough time to educate themselves and reflect upon or comment on a neighborhood plan. This is interesting because staff frequently hear from management that we are taking too much time and we need to speed things up, or at the least we can't slow down. We live in an accelerated society, where the concept of time is stretched and condensed. Technological innovations have changed our expectations and relationships to time and yet we still feel like there is not enough time. What a paradox!

As I do my work as a neighborhood planner, it is my intention to respect the notion of time as a stakeholder while recognizing the "time paradox" that exists. I suppose that is the best I can do and I can live with that.

MLK Peace Benches at a Community Center Near YOU!

2008-04-22T17:27:00.011-05:00

That's right! We finally distributed the first batch of our MLK Peace Benches. Rene, Edie and I loaded them up and off to community centers we went! Last Friday, we delivered the first 15 and I tell you, they went like hotcakes! We delivered them to the Pan Am, East Austin, Dottie Jordan, Zaragosa, Camacho, the Carver and then some! Check out the highlights....

Rene, Mando and the City truck filled with MLK Peace Benches!

The ladies of the Rosewood-Zaragosa Community Center

L2R: Kathy, Patsy, Nancy and Cipriana

Pan-Am Cantu Community Center Staff
L2R: Leroy, Ernest and Desi

Love at the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center

Dana & Marissa trying out their Peace Bench at the Grandma Camacho Center

To view the rest of the pics, click on our MLK Peace Bench Project album

MLK Peace Bench Project

Our goal is to build 100 MLK Peace Benches in 2008. Look out for them in community centers, libraries, schools and churches! Want to build one or ten? Send me an email!

Mando

Director, Hands On Central Texas

Critically Helpful

2008-04-18T17:38:00.005-05:00

There's definitely one thing I know and that is...I do not know everything. This is why I look to my peers, mentors, staff, friends and family to help me improve everything I do and everything I work on. And so in the spirit of learning. I now give you thoughtful insights & feedback from a very knowledgeable Public Innovator on how we can improve the things we do at United Way and Hands On. Here is his take on our last Echoes of Color event...

Critically Helpful, But not Critical
José E. Martínez

The panel and moderator were inadequate, from my perspective. What you needed in both the moderator and the panel were policy makers, not professors, bureaucrats, and doctors. The statistical professor, the health department official and the Seton MD are without a doubt interested in improving the health of the population, as is the State bureaucrat MD that is much too ready to give up in achieving changes in Texas. Why do I say you needed policy makers as the moderator and panel members?

You and I both know that the root cause of poor health in our nation’s population is that decisions on the delivery of public services to our population in our nation is made by elected officials with little interest in the vast majority of our population; that is, the poor and the middle class. As I believe was stated in the movie, the top 1% of Americans have 90% of the wealth in our nation. Warren Buffet said it well in the movie.

Conservative elected officials take care of their own, and these conservatives are not typically representing the poor and the middle class. That is why poor children in Texas go without sufficient medical care. That is why we have insufficient affordable housing. That is why the elderly don’t have dental insurance as part of Medicare. And that is why the oil industry receives $18 billion in subsidies so that they can generate $40 billion dollars in profit each quarter. That is why the auto industry is not forced to produce energy efficient vehicles, and why Iowa farmers get to sell their corn for bio-fuels instead of corn-on-the-cob, and so third world countries are having to pay premium prices for our corn.

I finally figured out that the main mission of a conservative administration at the national level is to bankrupt the federal government. Harsh but true. They know that they will eventually be replaced by a democratic administration. For everything there is a cycle. So to get the subsequent democratic administration to spend less, the conservatives must leave the federal coffers bare. That is what the Bush administration has been doing since Bush was elected. The incoming democratic administration will be saddled with the Middle East wars, a failing medical system, and a recession. What a great way for the upcoming administration to start taking care of the poor and middle class in America…with no money in the federal coffers. Remember that Clinton left with a positive balance in the federal coffers.

To make my plea short…what we need…especially in this election year is to elect a democratic president, BUT also to elect a majority democratic Congress…both houses. And in Texas we need to replace the conservative stronghold of the Legislature with a liberal majority…as well as replace the governor with a democratic governor.

The only way we can do this is to EDUCATE the poor and middle class of the importance of their vote in November 2008.

As was stated in the movie, the vast majority of poor in our country are whites, we cannot focus solely the get out to vote effort only on minorities.

That should have been the message from the panel and the moderator that evening at the Carver Museum.

If United Way wants to change the quality of life of people in Central Texas, invest your time and effort in getting people out to vote in the November 2008. Get them to cast their vote; to help themselves!

If you do this, you will truly be making a change. Otherwise, it is more of the same. You probably can’t be political, but a coalition of all human resource agencies in Central Texas could create an Obama-like ground swell.

Critically Helpful, But not Critical,

José E. Martínez

A National Voice: YNPN National Leaders Conference

2008-04-16T09:19:00.003-05:00

For the second year, I had the opportunity to attend the Young Nonprofit Professional Network's (YNPN) Leaders Conference. Convening in Chicago, the event brought together young nonprofit leaders from across the country to discuss key issues in the sector, share best practices for local chapters, network/meet incredible people, and begin to develop a voice for young nonprofit professionals.

Last year I attended as a representative of YNPNAustin, and this year I got to take on the dual role of Austinite and National Board Member. As we might say at Greenlights, I got to wear two very different hats. However, despite the two different perspectives, the take aways are largely the same.

1. We want community: Young leaders want to feel connected to their peers from around the globe. We want the opportunity to not only share experiences and best practices, but to be a part of a national network of peers. And if the representation at the conference and the Austin membership is any indication of what's out there - this is one powerful network.

2. We want diversity: The need for diverse perspectives was clearly articulated through all national and local level conversations. We don't want accidental diversity - we want intentional diversity. We want to do what it takes to make sure that all voices are brought to the table. And, if that means changing the table's shape, size and texture, let's do it.

3. We want a voice: Unions and trade associations have been for centuries, but YNPN has just started providing a voice for this sector in the last few years. It's time that we develop a platform and take a stand on how we empower young employees to build sustainability in the sector.

4. We want to lead: While this may seem like a "duh" type of comment, I think it's important to emphasize here. We want responsibility. We want trust. We want to be innovative and make progress in new and exciting ways. The desire is there, but not always the opportunity.

Perhaps my greatest contribution to the conference (other than leading the group in 'keeping it green calisthenics') was to get Robert Egger to drive up from his speaking engagement in Indiana to spend 30 minutes with our group. In that 30-minutes, Robert expressed more confidence in our ability to lead than most managers give in a year. He gave us inspiration to "be the change" in a tone so honest, it was shocking.

We were lucky enough to get media coverage, so rather than blab on too too much, I'll let the professionals take over from here:

NP2020 article on Robert Egger's talk
Chronicle of Philanthropy - including a quote from your's truly!

My last take away for y'all - expect more from YNPN and continue to expect more from yourself.

Not Knowing is a Good Thing

2008-04-15T20:55:00.010-05:00

Ever worked on a project with no real end or early enough where you're still trying to figure out where you're going? Well, that's what a group of Public Innovators are about to embark on for the next 3 years. We just kicked off the Community Studio, a 6 month leadership and skill building workshop focused on addressing critical issues in our community. The Studio is a collaboration with the University of Texas Diversity and Community Engagement Department, United Way and Hands On Central Texas. Big time gracias to Tommy Darwin and Lynn Osgood for guiding us through this process!

We started last week with the orienatation and the first session. Basically, what we're going to try to do is think of an issue we're trying to address as a product because at the end of the Studio, that's what we want to have - a product. Now what that product looks like, or what we think it's going to look like, will change and evolve and by the end of the Studio we will have that product, whether we want to or not!

For me, not knowing is the best part. I like to dream big, think of ideas and reshape them. So I am finding the Studio very exciting. What's also exciting is that we have about 15 Public Innovators who are willing to take the plunge with us! So let's here your take. Tell us your ideas and think of them again and again and see how they change. Show us your products!

Mando
Public Innovator
Director, Hands On Central Texas

ECHOES OF COLOR FILM SERIES presents UNNATURAL CAUSES

2008-04-08T14:04:00.010-05:00

Ever thought of the root causes of health disparities? Is it just what we eat and diets we keep or is it something bigger? Do other factors impact health issues in our communities? I think so. And now, we have an opportunity to see how our enviroment, our educational attainment and income play into health disparities that exist in our communities. Join us for the Echoes of Color Film Series screening of UNNATURAL CAUSES...is inequality making us sick? We have a great moderator, Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H and panel discussion following the film to help answer questions and continue the dialogue. I hope you will join us!

Echoes of Color Film Series
UNNATURAL CAUSES
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
6:00 - 8:30pm
George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center

Thanks,
Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas

Remembering MLK, One Peace Bench at a Time

2008-04-04T22:30:00.007-05:00

Today marked the 40th anniversary of the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, I kept thinking to myself, how do we keep the dream alive and how do we reach the "mountain top?" I'll tell you one way we're doing it at Hands On - This year, we're honoring Dr. King by building 100 MLK Peace Benches. I wish I could tell you that it was a well thought out plan, especially this year, but it wasn't - it was an idea that transformed into something tangible that I hope will keep the dream alive. Our goals is to place 100 peace benches in community centers, nonprofits, churches and schools throughout Central Texas. For us, these benches aren't just places to sit, they are places to gather and dialogue, places to mentor or be mentored, places to create understanding, places where the dream of Dr. King will continue to live and inspire. These benches take on the embodiement of Dr. King with messages of justice, equality, respect, nonviolence and love.

Of the many projects we're doing this year, this has to be tops in my book. Now, how will you remember Dr. King? What action will you take to remember him in this special year. Will you do your own peace bench? That's a pretty good start - email me and I'll help you get started!

I leave you with Dr. King's last speech and one of my favorites,

"I've Been to the Mountain Top."

Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas
mailto:ararmando.rayo@unitedwaycapitalarea.org

Waiting for the World to Change

2008-04-03T18:23:00.001-05:00

I have been giving a great deal of thought over the last two years about my own participation in community and civic life. I consistently struggle with the concept of balance – ensuring my personal, professional, and community worlds are given proper attention. From this struggle, I have made attempts to involve myself in different activities that can begin to support my larger role in helping to make change.

Rich Harwood’s recent blog entry on “Beware of Political Giddiness” struck me as interesting. I, like many others, have been drawn in by the presidential nomination process. I have watched every debate, both Republican and Democrat, listen to the endless radio shows, and am glued to the TV on Sunday mornings. And most recently, I participated in the Democratic County Convention where thousands of Travis County residents were actively involving themselves in the political process.

So are we at an impasse like Rich Harwood suggests? Are we caught up in the current enthusiasm and energy that this presidential nomination process creates or can we use this as an opportunity to harness that enthusiasm and energy and create clarity about where we want to go and how we will go about getting there?

Harwood states that “real hope is generated because people come to believe that it is possible to alter the status quo”. So my question that I continue to ask myself and others is…how can we create “real hope” and the space for “real change” to occur?

My greatest fear is that this current energy and enthusiasm, within myself and others, will result in the same patterns we have seen in the past. I don’t want to continue to live like the John Mayer song states:

We see everything that is going wrong with the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means to rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting…waiting on a world to change

Instead, I want to be a part of something where people can join together, share their hopes and aspirations, build relationships, and engage in a process that ensures our community and our country is one for which we are proud to be a part.

Talking to the Right People at the Right Time

2008-04-01T16:48:00.002-05:00

I belong to a networking organization of business, non-profit, school and community leaders in the Montopolis neighborhood that meets monthly. Our meetings are conversations around events and needs in the community, but no one leaves with direction or action items to address any of these items. Several members of the group were concerned that we don’t “do” anything, and were concerned that the time was ill spent when there are so many needs in this very low income community.

I suspected that our conversations were actually creating relationships that led to action and asked that we survey the group. Two of us crafted a very simple survey asking members of the group to report back on anything beneficial that had come to their organization as a result of the relationships they had formed. The response was phenomenal.

While members expressed an interest in having speakers at the meetings, they also indicated that there have been a large number of tangible benefits including funding for projects, in-kind donations, volunteers and introductions to other avenues for support. In addition to increased awareness, members report specific incidents in which the network has led to much-needed resources ranging from food for Thanksgiving baskets to computers for the neighborhood branch library. There were dozens of specific projects reported that can be attributed to the network although the “doing” happened outside of the monthly meetings.

For me, public innovation is making sure that the right people are having the right conversations in the right settings at the right times. It isn’t about creating work plans – it is about finding common ground from which to venture forth. The seeds of public innovation lie in open, honest, respectful and informed communication.

Ann Stafford
Public Innovator

Welcome to the Community Engagement Blog!

2008-04-01T16:41:00.000-05:00

So I finally created the Community Engagement Blog! After the Public Innovators Lab I wanted to make sure we continue our learning, connections and conversations. So here we are. Don't worry, it won't just be me ranting on about community issues, it'll be superstars like Amy Thompson, Tommy Darwin, Margaret Valenti and Ann Stafford. And you can join us in the conversations by posting comments or sending me an email to add you to the list of contributors. This blog is not only for Public Innovators, it's for people who want to "be the change" and make Central Texas a better place to live.

So here's a quick recap of what we've been doing.....

Public Innovators Lab - Learning

The Innaugural Community Engagement Summit

Back to Square One

Volunteer Project Leaders Being the Change!

And finally, some last words from Rich Harwood....

Hasta La Proxima!

Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas