Investing in Democracy

(From Neighborhood Leader, Winter 2007-2008 issue)

Dear Neighbor,

We all know that you can't have a real democracy without informed citizens. If people are going to govern themselves effectively, they need access to information.

That is why I urge people to read books and articles, to watch and listen to public affairs programs on TV and radio, and to attend speeches, debates, and conferences whenever they can.

Here at the Neighborhood Leadership Institute, we try to create opportunities for ordinary citizens—especially the grassroots leaders who are the graduates of our leadership programs—to learn more about the issues that affect their families and neighborhoods.

One of those issues is regionalism. Despite all the coverage in the media over the last year, most citizens still wonder, "How does regionalism affect me?"

The members of NLI's Jobs and Economic Development Committee (who are all graduates of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland) have been meeting and wrestling with that issue for much of the past year. When NLI got a call from The Presidents' Council asking for citizens to respond to a research report on regionalism, the committee jumped at the chance to involve other NLC graduates.

The committee members, along with several other NLC alumni, organized a community forum on regionalism that drew 200 people.

In addition to showcasing the leadership, organizing and facilitation skills of our graduates, the event also provided further evidence to support a point that I've been making for years: Ordinary citizens want, and will respond to, opportunities to become better informed about complex policy issues that affect their lives.

I'm glad that organizations like The Presidents' Council are turning to NLI for help in involving grassroots leaders in discussions of significant policy matters. However, I also realize that we have to push hard to build NLI's capacity to play this important "linking" role.

In order to make events like the December forum on regionalism happen, it takes a lot of phone calling, e-mailing, and management of volunteers. Above all, it takes a lot of staff time. And, as the old saying goes, time is money. We simply don't have the luxury of unfunded staff time.

That's why I will work to make the case to foundations and other potential supporters that we need additional funding if NLI is to continue to serve as "Greater Cleveland's Connection to Neighborhood Leadership and Community Engagement." After all, creating opportunities for informed citizenship is an investment in democracy.