The art of conversation with the Community

A mindset to have for the upcoming 2024 conversation on Forest Park housing/zoning/planning

• REVISITED We will meet again… Neighborhood Planners Guide …Farewell Last Issue 2018

Writing for The Forest Park Post has always been a pleasure for me.? I get to create and then be able to communicate ideas on neighborhood issues and public education to a great group of readers. Publisher Amy Rita gave me my first regular writing assignment about 5+ years ago. ?Journalism 101. She gave me autonomy to write what I cared about, the freedom to talk about Forest Park matters from a Forest Parker’s perspectives including the good the bad and the ugly. I am not sure that the same dependable platform really will exist after The Forest Park Post retires. ?The default neighborhood newspaper FPReview still remains an Oak Park based business operation, that is just a fact not a condemnation. Their reporting has become more balanced. I always figured what they missed I could capture in my op eds and columns and that is what I did. As an independent neighborhood magazine the unfettered results encouraged and celebrated change without lambasting political issues that divert and consume the court of public opinion. Other writers did splendid work on many quality of life issues including just having fun.

“What is learned from those FPPOST writers, is the pulse of community members living, working, and playing in Forest Park. “

??????????? ?In the digital world, print media is sun setting for sure but you never know what new media may take its place. What you might know about Proviso East and D209 became a little brighter when you heard about it in the Post. What you might know about FP government and community development was defined with good questions and honest answers …you heard about it in The Forest Park Post.

?Its not quite over for me yet. Whether you like my perspectives and advice I will continue. One book down maybe another to follow and a growing blog.

Here is vintage content from Neighborhood Planners Digest that seems to be just as relevant today than it was over 4 years ago NPD March/ April 2014

Communities working together for the Common Good…Where are you?

What does it take to foster good communication when creating a sustainable Comprehensive Plan for Forest Park? Over the last 14 months, NPD along with the Village of Forest Park have been an advocate in inviting as many stakeholders in our town, to voluntarily come to the comp planning table. I like the description of the baby boomer retirement transition of the “me generation to the “we” generation, when it comes to public participation. Evidently there are a number of hurdles to overcome to better utilize the comp plan process in becoming a strong guideline for the public good, the promise of a healthy future, and a win- win for those living in the community.?

“Planner’s cardinal rules include; you have to both trust the system and understand systems. You have to become a dedicated listener, able to determine some commonalities that bind stakeholders, individuals, small groups, special interests, neighborhood associations, institutions, and the faith community together. “

??????????? At the same time, avoid the distractions caused by, tabloid media spinning, public apathy spawned indifference, political dogma, status quo, red tape… and understand economics, social justice, public health issues, environmental ecosystems, historic preservation all that require negotiation and mediation and on and on. Most people grasp the big concept, but struggle on the practical how to … I know I did.

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Recently in February 2014 at an Illinois Department of Commerce/ Main Street workshop, speakers discussed the pitfalls of lack of communication, when two parties are totally opposed to each other, What happens is that both stop listening to each other. Research says this” tuning out” effects as much as 80% of opposing participants’ ideas and words being lost.

Dialogue is a main component of a conversation and constructing a comprehensible narrative. Let’s keep the Forest Park community conversation going and remember to Vote in all elections if you want to have a voice. Thanks to the Forest Park Post a pulse has both been detected and recorded and the beat goes on. Writing for The Forest Park Post… BEST job I ever had.