Denise Peters-Kauihou
Vice President
United Way Blackhawk Region
com·mu·ni·ty con·ver·sa·tion
An interactive process which brings together members of the community, and encourages them to think, discuss and explore the main causes and underlying issues behind [and hopefully solutions to] the toughest problems facing our communities today.
That’s a pretty good definition but it leaves out something significant: community conversations are also fun. I mean it. You get to meet interesting people, share in robust dialogue and while structured, they encourage a casual, non-judgmental space of sharing of ideas and perspectives that sometimes match your own views perfectly and other times, give you pause. “Huh,” I’ve often thought during these conversations when I hear something new or even familiar that might be framed in a way I hadn’t considered before. “Huh” moments should not be underestimated. They’re like windows. They let the light in.
When the pandemic hit, we were just gearing up for our own Community Conversations. Like the rest of the world post COVID-19 reopening, we’re shifting to a new normal where chairs are sometimes replaced with monitors and handshakes at the door are instead greetings typed into chat boxes. That’s okay. We haven’t lost sight of our goals. United Way Blackhawk Region is committed to listening to you and learning from you about the needs right here where you live. We want to know what your vision of a healthy, thriving community looks like and how our investments can be guided to demonstrate that we’re moving in the right direction. Your participation is encouraged and appreciated and your collective voices will help us identify initiatives that prioritize dollars where they’re needed most. I do hope you will consider joining us.
Please watch your email and our social media channels for opportunities to join the conversation and be a champion for change. In the meantime, enjoy the summer and all its gifts, including temperatures that encourage us to throw open our windows and let the light in.
