Citizen and Partner Engagement

There are some things one should always study before bringing people together to help start a new organization, especially one involving citizenry. It’s not the politics, or the privilege, or the power landscapes; nor is it the history or future projections. While these have merit, they only give context to an idea, and should never lead.

The things that require study are closer to home; they are, in essence, a study of what I believe in.

The truth is, for most of my adult life, I have been an apathetic complainer about my community, let alone think I could make a difference. And, if full confessions must be on the table, I am compelled to spill forth my deeper sin: I simply have not voted for over a decade. This behavior implies that I felt disconnected, victimized and unheard. I was, in full disclosure, a bi-stander to the world around me.

The painful part was, I was simultaneously enraged with the lack of citizen considerations in the political, privilege and power landscapes.

At this crossroads of behavior (apathy and victimization) and passion (a belief in the innate ability of people to shape their futures) - I met Mike Gesing. In her role as ANEO partnership connecter, I thank Laura Steinbrink for seeing our common beliefs.

For four weeks, Mike and spent our time simply talking about what we believe in. And golly, it was refreshing.

Neither one of us had much opinion about Voices for Choices, except that its ending left a THIRST. The Fund and ANEO are perceived as two of several strategic partners that, at the very least, should be regarded. All in all, NEOCL’s first few months of formation have been less about “positioning” and more about REALLY being sure if our beliefs in democratic process and citizenry are strong enough to build an organization.

And, like a woman freed from chains of oppression, I now shout, “I believe”. One might say, the conversion stuck. But my voice is only one miniscule part of this idea of Citizens League.

Starting fresh with vision, learning from the past, and shaping a sustainable organization will require a few more folks; and, if we manage things right, what “it” becomes has very little to do with Mike, Georgia or anyone else guiding the sales. If we do it right, NEOCL is the citizen’s mirror of truths.

I’ve worked with hundreds of organizations over the past 25 years, helping them grow and change and dream. But there’s something different and special afoot at the Northeast Ohio Citizens League. Call me naive, but I think it is akin to the feeling our founding Fathers and Mothers must have had when they cast off shore, completely unsure of where they were going. I think it might be “hope” - and it was powerful enough to shape a mighty nation.