Reaching Beyond Public Meetings: I Want to Hear From You

This week, I’m testing something new, and I need your help. A small group of residents will receive a text from me asking about your top community concerns.

This is a pilot program – I want to test whether texting is actually a better way to hear from you than just relying on public meetings. Why consider this approach? Because while public meetings are valuable, they often attract the same participants each time. I need to hear from working parents who can’t make evening meetings, seniors who prefer not to speak in crowds, and all the voices that don’t typically participate in traditional civic engagement. If you receive the text this week, please take 30 seconds to reply with what concerns you most about our community.

Your feedback will help me decide if this method is worth expanding to reach every resident. Sometimes the best ideas start small, but they need your participation to prove their value.

Thanks,

Elizabeth Hanke