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In March 2003, a group of women living in Brooklyn, NY,
got together for wine, cheese and serious talk about mutual
concerns regarding the state of our communities. Clearly,
the media was focused on the international scene and the
build-up to the war in Iraq. However, we feared that community
projects would be threatened without comment.
Here's how we got started:
- A small group of women sent letters inviting friends
and colleagues from various facets of our community to
a meeting to discuss the community. Participants were asked
to assess the community programs that they were interested
in and bring ideas, experiences and observations about
conditions in the community.
- Many attended the initial meeting, which served to air
concerns, gather observations, and make connections.
- A founders' group—steering committee—emerged,
comprised of interested women.
- We developed a mission statement which evolved over the
course of time.
- We set a structure to gather and inform:
•
Founders’ meetings set a calendar
of events; develop policy and a focus; and keep track of
what is going on in the community.
• General forums and meetings on a specific topic - (open
to all) are educational; These meetings include author's nights at which an author
provides commentary on their book; and talks by political leaders and economists
or panels of informed representatives. All meeting include a social hour before
the meeting and a question and answer session following the presentations.
• Book clubs promote discussion.
• Meetings with elected representatives are a source of
current budget and policy debates and decisions.
• Personal and agency stories about programs accommodate
the expressed need for a more personal approach to individuals and communities.
We are gathering personal stories on our website. These illustrate the effects
(positive and negative) of policy and budget decisions on individuals, families
and our communities.
- We collect and disseminate community stories and information
from our elected representatives to provide a foundation
for planned meetings with other groups to exchange information,
become informed and participate in decisions that affect
our communities.
- We meet with community groups to
exchange ideas and information.
It is easy, inexpensive, focused, purposeful and exciting.
Each individual in the group can bring attention and focus
to an area of interest across a broad spectrum (e.g., education,
health, housing, the elderly, gun control, land use). Since
the topics are organized by the effect of national decisions
on our local programs, there is a common thread to the discussions.
While individuals in our group had not worked together as
a unit before, the need and the mission brought together
interested, talented women from all walks of life, who were
willing to take on the tasks of developing a new organization.
So contact a few friends.
There is a lot to do! When
you plan to get together, let
us know. Perhaps there is something we can to help you
get started!
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