Ward 2 councillors Sandra Hollingsworth and Susan Myers are pushing to have up to three 'good-feel' stories shared at the beginning of each City Council meeting.
Ward 2 Councillors Sandra Hollingsworth and Susan Myers will introduce the following motion at Monday's meeting of City Council, calling for a brief time at the start of each council meeting for councillors to share positive stories.
The councillors are also providing a handy template to be used by council members to seek permission for each story presentation.
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Focusing on the positive
A memo from Councillor S. Hollingsworth is attached for the consideration of Council.
Mover: Councillor Sandra Hollingsworth
Seconder: Councillor Susan Myers
Whereas Sault Ste. Marie is experiencing creative investment and development thanks to individuals, private companies, educational institutions and community groups despite current economic challenges; and
Whereas a positive image is critical when it comes to community development and revitalization; and
Whereas the cultivation of positive relationships in the community begins by focusing on the good in the community;
Now therefore be it resolved that City Council set aside a few minutes at the beginning of each council meeting for councillors to share positive community stories.
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Memo
To: Council
From: Sandra Hollingsworth, Ward 2 Councillor
Date: November 15, 2016
Re: Council meetings – Focusing on the positive
Dear Council,
Informally we have discussed setting aside a few brief minutes at the beginning of each council meeting to share a positive “good” feel community story.
Attached is a template to capture your story.
It is understood that other communities have experienced a negative culture, but they were able to change citizen’s attitudes by implementing a “positive attitude campaign.”
The goal of this is to promote the positive, wonderful achievements that are happening by individuals, companies, educational institution, and community groups, in the hope to change public perception that the city is “doomed.”
Yes, we are facing serious economic challenges, however it is important to remind (not to hide our challenges) that there are a number of positive activities that are occurring within our city.
Why is this important to our city? What are the long term benefits?
Public perception can either positively or negatively impact the success of any future plan that we try to implement.
For example failing to change public perception today into a positive will (I believe) affect the success of rolling out the Community Adjustment Plan or potentially any other change we may want to implement.
Therefore, we need to act now in changing the negative perception into positive.
This can start with council.
A positive image is critical when it comes to community development and revitalization (source Main Street America Association, October 31, 2013.)
Revitalization efforts must constantly work to build a community’s image, and in some cases, change negative perceptions.
We see it on a smaller scale in many Main Street communities across the country.
This approach has successfully been done by Cleveland, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Detroit, which all have received a lot of praise for their positive revitalization.
Detroit is working hard to change the negative perceptions in a number of ways.
It’s not enough to say that the city is safe and thriving, you must prove it.
Luckily, the development going on in downtown Detroit and surrounding areas is doing just that -- changing perceptions through creative investment and development.
Within Sault Ste. Marie this is also happening thanks to individuals, private companies, educational institutions, and community groups (ie The Tech, Sault College Robotic Program etc., but still the negative perception seems to prevail.
Therefore, I believe it is our role to highlight the positives and remind our community that within our economic challenges, there is hope.
Template purpose is to report “good news stories” in less than 1 minute
The template is to streamline how a councillor shares his/her positive story in a time-sensitive fashion.
The councillor would complete the form and submit it to the agenda review committee for approval.
If the agenda review committee approves the “good news” story, then the council person has one minute to share at the beginning of the council meeting.
It will be the responsibility of the mayor to ensure that he/she stays within the one-minute timeframe.
In addition, to manage time, a maximum of three council members can only share a good news story.
Conclusion
Cultivating positive relationships and communities begins by focusing on the good in the community.
As goodness expands, pride for the community will happen.
Embracing on the many positive stories happening within the community will lessen and victories are heightened.
With council sharing the many successes that are happening, hopefully a positive effect on others and the community will occur.
This may be a small idea, but it has a lot of potential to make a huge impact on our community that we all care about.
It is my hope that you will embrace this idea and offer suggestions so that this may even be better.
Thank you.
Sandra Hollingsworth
Ward 2 Councillor
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