Care about community? Here’s how to show it
I don’t know how many cities have a neighborhood council program, but Tacoma does.
Even though most people don’t know – or even care – very much, Tacoma has a solid core of people from every neighborhood who step up and have a longstanding stake in the health and identity of each neighborhood.
There are a few things everyone should know about the city’s neighborhood council program.
First, its members are not employees of the city – or any official agency. We live and work and spend our time in our communities; we know people and go places and perhaps even know a few things the “official” people are unlikely to encounter.
If you see us at an event, you need to know two things: First, you probably won’t recognize us (unless we have already met). Second, we are there because we want to be. It is not our duty or obligation to attend (and support) community events.
Neighborhood councils act as an advisory group to city officials. We have very little authority, but we do organize and support events and support (and sometimes confront and oppose) city officials and agencies.
As you might guess, not everyone has the time, inclination or passion for such an unpaid commitment.
Many neighborhood council members are retired or on flexible schedules. The rest of us squeeze spare moments from family, after work and outside of a variety of outside obligations.
Most of us have more interesting – and possibly rewarding – things we could be doing with our time. We do it because we care.
We do it because the kids in our neighborhood schools (who we may never meet) matter to us. We step up and make noise or dedicate money to crosswalks, potholes, community gardens or anything else we or our neighbors care about.
We host forums on development, elections and local crime.
At our meetings we welcome representatives from the City Council, the Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities, Metro Parks, Tacoma Public Schools and many more agencies, nonprofits and community groups.
We write letters of support (or opposition) on issues of importance to our neighbors. We step up when most people just complain.
If you are not involved already, I encourage you to look up your local neighborhood council meeting. If you get involved, you won’t get paid in cash.
But you will be appreciated. Or not.
You could make some new friends. Or some new enemies.
You could even make a difference in your neighborhood – the difference only you could make.
Real change takes time. But it takes much more than time; it takes commitment and connection. And it takes attention and presence.
It’s like family or a career, or good health, or anything worth keeping: It takes work, sacrifice and caring.
It costs a lot, but it is always worth it. You will learn more about your neighborhood than you imagined possible. And you will see up close how complicated neighborhood issues can be.
Problems might not be solved, and agreements might not be reached, but sometimes a friendship emerges or a discovery is made and, once in a great while, neighbors come together and something close to a miracle occurs.
Potholes are fixed, trees are planted, garbage is picked up or a summer street fair brings together neighbors, and it only happens when people look up from their screens, step outside and work together.
Neighborhood council members are unpaid, unheralded and largely anonymous – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
You may love or hate the government, you may or may not trust your local officials, but your neighborhood is where you live. You can’t afford not to care.
For more information, go to tinyurl.com/jjy8kus.
M. (Morf) Morford, a former News Tribune reader columnist, is chair of the North End Neighborhood Council. Email him at mmorf@mail.com.
This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 4:59 AM with the headline "Care about community? Here’s how to show it."