Community Building Tip: Show Up
For my current set of tips, I'm using the list "101 Small Ways You Can Improve Your City.
82. Just show up. "Most public zoning and development meetings are dominated by people who have a vested interest in the project. When a citizen shows up without a fish to fry, and expresses an opinion for the good of all, it’s a breath of fresh air." — Jeff Speck, author, Walkable City
This is good advice, but disproportionately difficult to follow for diverse people. Statistically men have more moey and free time than women, white people than people of color, rich than poor, abled than disabled, and so on through almost every division. So white men get more attention at events because they can show up, if they want to.
Therefore, my advice as an activist is not just to show up, but bring someone(s) else who differs from your traits. Think about the current topic of the event and try to estimate who would be the most affected by it -- and the least likely to have access on their own. Then volunteer to take them with you. If you have a car, you can be an activist! Even if the people in power ignore everything that citizens say, you can still drive them up a wall by forcing them to spend an hour or few listening to the people they usually step on.
82. Just show up. "Most public zoning and development meetings are dominated by people who have a vested interest in the project. When a citizen shows up without a fish to fry, and expresses an opinion for the good of all, it’s a breath of fresh air." — Jeff Speck, author, Walkable City
This is good advice, but disproportionately difficult to follow for diverse people. Statistically men have more moey and free time than women, white people than people of color, rich than poor, abled than disabled, and so on through almost every division. So white men get more attention at events because they can show up, if they want to.
Therefore, my advice as an activist is not just to show up, but bring someone(s) else who differs from your traits. Think about the current topic of the event and try to estimate who would be the most affected by it -- and the least likely to have access on their own. Then volunteer to take them with you. If you have a car, you can be an activist! Even if the people in power ignore everything that citizens say, you can still drive them up a wall by forcing them to spend an hour or few listening to the people they usually step on.