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Come to the Congress: Catch Some Magic |
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Perspective
By Ken Draper
I was at the first Congress of Neighborhoods six years ago and I’ve attended every citywide Congress since. It’s interesting how little the subjects on the program have changed.
That first Congress promised that councils would learn how to get and use power. Albert Abrams tells us in Tuesday’s City Watch: “The Citywide Congress of Neighborhoods on October 11 is all about clout.” Link.
That first Congress promised help with running meetings, dealing with the media, coalition building for power and conducting elections. Saturday’s program features Board Governance, marketing and branding, a how-to on building alliances and … conducting elections.
Not sure what that tells us. That council folks are slow learners? Maybe it’s a reflection on our creativity as planners. After all, the First Congress was planned mostly by general manager Greg Nelson and his staff. Tomorrow’s Congress was planned by neighborhood councils.
Maybe what it reflects is the considerable turnover in NC boards. Maybe it just reaffirms: ‘everything old is new again.’
That first Congress remains my favorite. And, it wasn’t really the program. It was the energy and the atmosphere.
It was held at the Sheraton Universal in August of 2002. About 750 energized ‘revolutionaries’ attended. There were only 39 councils certified by then. Better yet, only 10 had held elections and I’m not sure anyone had been cleared to receive funding yet.
The folks who came were explorers. Not all yet convinced, but exploring. There were great expectations for this neighborhood empowerment stuff. It could make the historically disenfranchised and voiceless whole. It could provide some clout for those long ignored by City Hall. I’ll leave the progress report on the fulfillment of those dreams for another time, but there is no question about the energy and excitement and shared citywide issues and camaraderie that permeated that First Congress. Heady times those. Magic is some ways.
So, about tomorrow. I hope you will come. Anyone who volunteers even a half dozen hours of their lives because they think … hope … neighborhood councils can make a difference should be there. The passion be somewhat muted and the program may be familiar … but if you find the right moment, it’s still possible to catch some magic. (Ken Draper is the editor of CityWatch. He can be reached at
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CityWatch
Vol 6 Issue 82
Pub: Oct 10, 2008
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