Lafflam
It has been my experience that in this journey of life, change is inevitable. It is sometimes huge, what seems like earth shattering at the time, and sometimes so tiny, that you don’t even realize it is happening until you reflect back months or even years later.
When I began my current job at RNeighbors the organizations’ mission was to “ensure a great city through programs supporting neighbors in building community and improving neighborhoods.” When my friends and family asked what my new job entailed I replied “building community through neighborhood associations.” I was a little in the dark on what that actually meant. Now in my third year at RNeighbors, I had no idea how I would grow both personally and professionally through the position and the organization would grow organically to truly be a resource to Rochester neighborhoods.
Yesterday I had the treat of being given some lettuce picked from my intern’s parent’s garden. It was the perfect start to my dinner last night. That lettuce did not magically appear in the dirt one day. It grew through a organic process, a journey. The ground was cultivated, seeds planted and watered, weeds kept at bay, sun nurtured the plant, and somehow the hungry bunnies were kept away until finally the lettuce was ready to eat.
As with the lettuce, RNeighbors has changed and grown through a process, a journey. RNeighbors, the Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center was formed through the leadership of then Mayor Chuck Canfield and the City Council in 2001. As with any new job, taking the reins at RNeighbors seemed daunting and overwhelming to me. There were several board members who were enthusiastic and ready to make some huge changes in the organization including creation of additional programs and plunging into writing several large grants. I felt like I was along for the ride but hadn’t really figured out exactly what my professional role was to “build community” or for that matter, what RNeighbors’ role was in our City. It seemed that first year I couldn’t quite get my feet under me or the organization.
My brain does not think strategically in spread sheets, and ironically enough for someone who works in neighborhoods, I’m not skilled at reading maps (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ended up lost going to neighborhood association meetings). What I have learned along my journey the past three years is that I am skilled at helping people work together for a common cause and thinking creatively at how to bring resources to Rochester neighborhoods. Now I build on my strengths and bring in volunteers who have talents in areas that I am deficient in.
Today RNeighbors has strong roots. Each day seems to bring new opportunities to serve our City. Through the journey, partnerships were cultivated with City and County entities. Seeds were planted with other non profits and service groups and working together we’ve both benefited. Weeds, like prohibitive costs have been lessened by community donations of both materials, like paint brushes and monetary sponsorships. Engaged board members and volunteers have poured their time into nurturing projects and programs. And our rabbits, difficult to work with individuals, do get through the fence occasionally but now there are procedures and best practices that lessen their negative impact. The organization’s growing season is certainly not completed. We continue to be challenged by things such as financial droughts and a shortage of time but that’s all part of our path.
Each of us must make the decisions that lead us zigzagging through our life journeys. As Rochester continues to expand and change, it is my hope as a community that we can choose to build on and nurture our strengths (such as the amazing volunteers found in our neighborhoods, schools, and organizations), learn from the weed patches like things that didn’t go well, and be an active and engaged part of our community’s growth.
Rene Lafflam is Executive Director of RNeighbors in Rochester, MN.
Tags: Civic Parables, rene lafflam, rneighbors