I know Joe Spencer and others at WSCO did some active outreach to encourage people of diverse backgrounds to run for the board. We have one Spanish speaker and often have a translator present for her. We have even tried to get representation from Humboldt High School, and had a Hmong high school board member for a time.
Other members from the WSCO environment committee and other neighbors went around door to door early this spring to talk one on one to neighbors in a neglected part of the neighborhood in the Barge Flats area and polled them around their concerns and priorities. I don't think you can assume that people will just turn up to a council meeting or committee who are not already in the habit of doing so unless someone talks to them one on one and creates some sort of relationship with them. Even then, it may take repeated attempts to even get them to a community meeting, unless they have a pre-existing interest in the subject... Elizabeth Dickinson West Side _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
