"“I can’t think of any fires that need to be put out” The fact that anyone could say this shows the lack of listening skills and inclusion that have characterized the Seattle area ever since I moved here. Engagement means actually caring for community members, not pushing them aside and acting as if their concerns don't matter. Engagement means an abandoning the attitude that they are the experts and that no one else's point of view is valid. Engagement means that there are no cliques. Engagement means planning events at a location, time and affordability level that meets the needs of people with low incomes and people with disabilities, such as free and low cost events in the afternoon and contiguous to major public transportation routes. As soon as events cost $75 or even $35 and are held at night and in areas that are inaccessible or unsafe for public transportation at night, that excludes people. My personal experience is that, while doing good, the JF has been on the extreme end of refusal to listen and on the extreme end of exclusion rather than inclusion. The Muslim, Catholic and LDS communities do a much better job of helping their communities. The Muslim community does a much better job of giving their constituents legal representation in the face of Islamophobia. Gaslighting, marginalizing and pushing people aside does not constitute listening and inclusion.
Anyway, I would love to experience some of this inclusion, since in my 15 years in the Seattle area, it hasn't happened.
There is a difference education programs and actually being there defensing and supporting individuals.
"“I can’t think of any fires that need to be put out” The fact that anyone could say this shows the lack of listening skills and inclusion that have characterized the Seattle area ever since I moved here. Engagement means actually caring for community members, not pushing them aside and acting as if their concerns don't matter. Engagement means an abandoning the attitude that they are the experts and that no one else's point of view is valid. Engagement means that there are no cliques. Engagement means planning events at a location, time and affordability level that meets the needs of people with low incomes and people with disabilities, such as free and low cost events in the afternoon and contiguous to major public transportation routes. As soon as events cost $75 or even $35 and are held at night and in areas that are inaccessible or unsafe for public transportation at night, that excludes people. My personal experience is that, while doing good, the JF has been on the extreme end of refusal to listen and on the extreme end of exclusion rather than inclusion. The Muslim, Catholic and LDS communities do a much better job of helping their communities. The Muslim community does a much better job of giving their constituents legal representation in the face of Islamophobia. Gaslighting, marginalizing and pushing people aside does not constitute listening and inclusion.