Clearing the Rhetoric Debris

People have Intrinsic Worth and Personal Agency 

Nothing needs to be to add to this; it's the framework of our Constitution

People are also Complex

Technically - as in complexity theory. Uncertainty and non-linearity produced by multiple inputs and interactions along with the accompanying feedback loops of assumptions, justifications, blame, feelings, memories, and resulting confabulations. 

Because of Worth, Agency, and Complexity, the best way (although far from flawless) to understand and respond to people is as individuals, person to person. Something like this - 

What are the aspirations, goals, hopes, burdens, fears, lived experiences, and objectives of the person before me? How have I gotten in their way, or made things more difficult for them? How can I do my work and fulfill my responsibilities in a manner that is as responsive and helpful toward this person as possible? How can I hold myself accountable for my impact upon this person, both now and in the future?

While there are and always will be compelling reasons to have designated spokespersons to speak for groups of people, history has demonstrated over and over how the complexity that is inevitably at play, can produce self-perpetuating conflict that degenerates into chaos. Once this happens, the goals and objectives of each 'side' (even mutual ones) are increasingly in jeopardy. 

Individuals portrayed as being on the 'side' of a sometimes self-appointed ax-grinder can find themselves carried down a group-think path of increasingly divisive and even dangerous rhetoric against others whom they have never met.

One of the inherent benefits with the concept of "Voice of Your Community" is that a single individual can speak about their experience regarding a specific event in their life. At that level, as complex as the individuals are, the simple process of seeing and responding to PEOPLE can happen.  

What are the aspirations, goals, hopes, burdens, fears, lived experiences, and objectives of the person before me? How have I gotten in their way, or made things more difficult for them? How can I do my work and fulfill my responsibilities in a manner that is as responsive and helpful toward this person as possible? How can I hold myself accountable for my impact upon this person, both now and in the future?