THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603120424
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
All talk and no action? Does anything ever change in the community?
In many localities, participants in community discussion groups, such as the National Issues Forums and study circles, say talk has produced positive changes.
In Grand Rapids, Mich.: A study circle on juvenile violence led to a bond issue to pay for 95 more police, said Yvonne Sims, co-chairwoman of the local National Issues Forums steering committee.
Another group, - about 15 older women - held a discussion on child care and then decided to become regular volunteers at a church day-care center, Sims said.
Last year, the forums' steering committee maintained partnerships with 53 civic, government and religious organizations as well as schools and businesses, Sims said.
In Pembroke, N.C.: A discussion group for welfare recipients, social workers and local political leaders resulted in low-income citizens forming child-care, neighborhood-watch and car-pooling programs, said Gail McRae, a forum leader.
The forums also led to the creation of the nonprofit Sandhills Mediation Center, which McRae now heads.
Other spinoffs have included a peer leadership academy for teenagers and a resultant improvement in school behavior, self confidence and sense of citizenship, McRae said.
In California: Susan Clark, director of the Center for Civic Literacy, based in Marin County, says she uses small forums - usually with fewer than 20 people - to help adults with low levels of education become more involved in public affairs.
Participants get hands-on involvement in the project, including choosing the topics they want to discuss. But ``we don't even talk about voting until we have them engaged,'' Clark said.
``Everybody has a chance to talk,'' she said. ``That's a key thing. They have a chance to talk and have their views respected.''
Adult reading students help other citizens learn about the election process by being involved in developing manuals about elections.
Sometimes, though, talk itself can be the best product.
In El Paso, Texas, forums on a variety of issues have been held since 1983 and attract a diverse array of citizens and public officials, said Jule Zimet, a founder.
``I like to say that the forums cause connections: connecting people to issues, connecting people to other people and connecting people to their communities,'' she said. ``It's made people aware of the importance of grass-roots participation.''
Zimet said the greatest effect has been the nuturing of more trust and cooperation among many citizens, including herself.
``When you talk a lot to other people, it becomes much harder to cast aspersions on their character while it becomes easier to trust them,'' Zimet said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Organizations that promote dialogue:
Community Networking Association: Helps Hampton Roads residents
address local and regional issues.
P.O. Box 62078, Virginia Beach, VA
495-8301.
National Issues Forums: Helps citizens form discussion groups on
national topics. Format also can be used for local issues.
NIF Institute, 100 Commons Road, Dayton, OH 45459
1-800-433-7834.
Study Circles Resource Center: Promotes grass-roots discussion
groups, problem solving and community building on issues.
P.O. Box 203, Route 169, Pomfret, CT 06258
1-860-928-2616.
``National Conversation'': Distributes starter kits for community
discussions generally on the question of ``What is America? What do
we have in common?''
``National Conversation,'' National Endowment for the Humanities,
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20506
1-800-NEH-1121.
by CNB