Building community through conversation

The challenge of our times is that as we are more connected than ever before, we can fail to listen to each other. We communicate too often in sound bites, tweets, brief posts… and too little across the kitchen table. This is true not just of individuals but of organizations and institutions.  Do you attend conversations or presentations? How often do you feel heard and understood?

United Way Worldwide has partnered with The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation to help us fundamentally change the way we approach building the common good in our communities. As a member of one of two pilot projects, we have launched our first activity: community conversations.

Volunteers are facilitating and taking notes that focus on themes and aspirations. Organizations are hosting and inviting small groups of participants. The first contacts quickly led to more connections and the door is open to all. The insight we gain into the hopes and concerns of the people who live in Madison County will help us understand our real opportunities for creating change that improves lives.

Specifically, we are looking for insight into how to improve systems and support that lead more households to self sufficiency. I can tell you that if you are thinking the answer is simply to bring in more jobs, you would be wise to join a community conversation. Certainly, employment is part of the solution, as is education. But without going deeper into hopes, fears, values and trust, jobs and education programs won’t succeed.

I think it’s important to note also that the community conversation project has some structure in order to create an open, non-threatening, respectful and positive experience.  Conversation leaders guide the process, not the input. Note takers record thoughts and ideas, not names. Groups are small to ensure that everyone is heard. There are no right answers.

Interested? Contact Liz or Kate at 608-3063 or visit Community Conversations to find out how to become involved.

We also have an opportunity on March 9 to recognize the many people and organizations that have created positive impact in Madison County at our annual meeting and volunteer recognition. As we build our processes to include all community engagement that creates impact: giving, advocating, and volunteering, we’ve added some new elements to the annual meeting.

In addition to recognizing individual and corporate support for United Way, we will be recognizing community volunteerism through RSVP and we are excited to host keynote speaker Isaac E. Randolph, Jr., executive director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. 

The annual meeting is also our opportunity to report directly to our advocates the progress of the work we are doing with our community partners to improve the education, income and health of those who live in Madison County.

Reservations for the annual dinner meeting, 6 p.m. at The Edgewood Golf & Dining, will be taken through March 4 online at www.unitedwaymadisonco.org/2011annualmtg  or by calling 643-7493.  Individual attendance is $30 and a table for 8 is $240.

Nancy Vaughan is president of United Way of Madison County. She can be reached at n.vaughan@unitedwaymadisonco.org.