Do you have ideas and dreams for your neighborhood? Would you like to see specific changes on your street? Would you enjoy new opportunities that would make it easier to communicate with your neighbors? Is there an issue or cause affecting your neighborhood that you feel passionately about? Would you be willing to share your thoughts and feelings with other neighbors?
For several years, a committee of faithful members has worked on a plan to establish a city-wide neighborhood association. A mission and vision statement were written, listing a tentative set of goals that would help direct the structure for this initiative.
We called the larger "umbrella" The Plattsburgh Neighborhood Association, and the project itself, "Imagine Plattsburgh!" Knowing that many neighborhoods face a variety of issues, we felt this type of organization would be the place to direct interest in neighborhood issues bringing together residents who might like to share common dreams and ideas for the city.
Over the years, many residents have shared their thoughts with me about what they would like to see here in Plattsburgh. Many recall their fond memories of a city when it was more vibrant, healthy and welcoming. They remember a downtown that beckoned them to wonderful shops, stores, restaurants and businesses where most people knew the owners and enjoyed the friendships and family connections. Downtown was a wonderful extension of our neighborhood life. It was just plain fun to be downtown!
Part of the Neighborhood Association's design is to use those memories to create new ones for those of us living here today.
We envision a place where everyone's ideas are welcomed, where together, we can embrace some new visions for our neighborhoods and larger community.
"Positive change is exciting, and it brings new energy to a place!" (Margaret Wheatley) Coming together, sharing ideas and formulating a simple plan gives those interested an avenue to identify both challenges and opportunities. This will help us move forward in a variety of efforts to create a stronger fabric of community life.
Everyone looks at the possibilities through different eyes, but when people begin to meet and talk to one another about what they care deeply about, exciting steps begin to take shape.
In my opinion, beginning with simple conversations about our home, we can create wonderful and life-giving experiences for our future. Giving birth to new ideas and having ownership in positive change can be exciting.
"There is no more powerful way to initiate significant change than to convene a conversation. When a community of individuals discover that they share a common concern, change begins. There is no power equal to a community discovering what it cares about together." (Margaret Wheatley) With so many serious issues facing our country, our state and our community, what better time to come together to improve what we care about? Hope grows in this environment!
A Neighborhood Association, whether city-wide or broken into smaller units, can be a powerful tool for action and change. Such an association can foster stronger relationships, can build trust among residents, can be a vehicle for problem-solving and the sharing of common concerns and ideas. Maybe we could even once again implement a "Welcome Wagon." This can be a place where anyone can give voice to their dreams for Plattsburgh.
We need to bring PRIDE back into Plattsburgh life and instill honor and respect for this place we call home.
If people are willing to take the chance to work and learn together, then the journey can bring new energy to our streets and downtown areas. We can share the wonderful history and stories of our rich heritage and model the faith and energy of all those who worked before us who created a community where life was worth living.
It will take passion, patience and persistence, but a stronger sense of community can emerge, and this will be the gift we give ourselves and our families. We are the present stakeholders!
As Colin Read stated in one of his columns, "... it remains our choice to define Plattsburgh ... as we always have, or to take a new view through the eyes of a tourist and see what magic there is to be had here." "It's always the right time to make life a little better, and HOME is a pretty good place to start."
As 2010 gets underway, we are extending an invitation to all city residents to join us and "Imagine Plattsburgh" with us. Feel free to join us at any time on this journey. Call 561-8225 or e-mail at nmonette@charter.net.
Nancy Monette is the coordinator of this Plattsburgh Neighborhood Association.
Opinion
March 17, 2010
Plattsburgh needs new invigoration
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