Marianne Malloy is a citizen blogger from West Philadelphia. She attended the May 20 Great Expectations neighborhood forum. She writes:
I attended the 9th Great Expectations forum at the University Square Apartments at 39th and Market Streets. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, as it was the first Great Expectations event that I have attended. As soon as I walked in the room, I was immediately struck by the atmosphere. The tables were filled with a diverse group of people eating dinner together and getting to know each other. I was surprised by the diversity of the ages of the participants in attendance. There were college students, young professionals, concerned parents, and retirees. It was immediately refreshing, welcoming, and encouraging to see this wide range of citizen participation.
The evening got started with some opening remarks and a presentation about the city's budget and strategic plan. Afterward, the participants had the opportunity to talk about measurable goals and outcomes in order to make these lofty plans a reality. One of the facilitators said that this forum was to act as a megaphone. They want to take our voices and amplify them. In other words, our ideas and concerns will be broadcast to the Mayor’s Office and the community at large. It seemed like a great opportunity and I was ready to get started.
We had the opportunity to break into groups to discuss the strategic goals in more depth. I decided to join the Jobs and Economic Development group. I thought that this would have been a very popular group, but we were one of the smaller ones. However, it was a lively, passionate group.
Some of the main goals that came out of our discussion included keeping graduates from the local colleges in Philadelphia, getting young people jobs to keep them off the streets, better connecting existing residents to jobs, jobs for ex-offenders, connecting youth with skill-based trainings, and opportunities for seniors/retirees. A theme that ran through the conversation was bridging the generational gap and providing opportunities for people of all ages. Perhaps, this theme was due in part to the diversity of age at the forum and was a reflection of this.
Overall, great ideas and discussions were flowing. I was able to visit some of the other groups and found more lively discussions. It struck me that it is an amazing opportunity to be able to share your hopes and goals for the city with the people who can make it happen.
In the closing remarks, someone said that we are “customers of the government.” That phrase stuck out in my head. I have typically taken a laissez faire approach to government, but this idea of being a “customer of the government” makes it seem more accessible and approachable. It was nice to feel like the Mayor’s Office wants feedback and to know citizens’ opinions. Beyond that, though, they also wanted to know how we want to be treated. What a great first step in figuring out customer service and relations than by directly asking the citizens their expectations.
As I rejoined my Jobs and Economic Development group, I witnessed a beautiful little exchange. One of the women in our group was having trouble opening a bottle of water. Without having to ask for help, and without asking if she needed help, the man sitting next to her simply put his hand out. She handed the bottle to him; he opened it, and then handed it back to her. This small interaction between two strangers was a great symbol of community- strangers watching out for and helping each other. I think that city dwellers, including Philadelphians, can get a bad reputation for being rude or unfriendly. At the beginning of the forum, the facilitator asked the group what Philadelphians are good at. The answer? Arguing and complaining. The forum was intended to turn those complaints into something productive by eventually creating change.
Wouldn’t it be great if part of that change included building community through these discussions, sharing meals, telling life stories, and really listening and learning from your fellow neighbors? Having my voice being heard and thinking about the strategic plans for the city were important aspects of the evening. However, the biggest thing I that took from the forum was feeling a connection to other citizens and feeling an appreciation for this great city.
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