By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
To grow a successful community takes everybody, it is not just the responsibility of city government but also the responsibility of everyone in the community.
Dr. David Ivan, a University of Michigan professor, spoke to a crowd of about 150 people Monday night about how a small community can be a cool community. Dr. Ivan spoke about the success of several communities across the country and the things that were common themes to that success.
One community included local students in the business community. So much so that one of the more successful businesses in town was a student owned and operated eatery. It became a place where the student hung out after school, it was their meeting place.
Dr Ivan spoke about how a community must use its strengths to grow on. The members of the community must put aside their jealousies and work together. Members of the community are responsible for driving the success by investing in the community whether it be volunteerism, money or taking ownership of the project and move it forward.
A community creates its own quality of place with a strong social capital and community engagement. Community projects such as the music in the park program. One community used a similar program that required the band or musical group that performed to present a musical workshop for the local school.
Take pride in the community by honoring those who live there. One community has a sign in town that honors local citizens by their accomplishments creating a pride in the community and place that people want to be.
Dr. Ivan spoke of the many surveys that communities took to determine what they needed to concentrate on. One survey he noted asked why the elders had stayed or returned to a community. They returned or stayed because they had a good experience growing up in that community. So by creating a place that engages local youth, by providing them with a place to be and community many will stay or return.
He added that good jobs were also important to the youth. With the right setting the youth can be the ones who create those jobs and continue to help the community prosper.
One idea that was also brought up that Raton has failed to get done is signage coming into town. Finger pointing of course was mentioned but as Dr. Ivan indicated it is the responsibility of everyone in the community to take pride in their community, to work together and involve not only the young but also the elders.
Even though he only spent a few hours in Raton today Dr. Ivan noted that he saw potential. He also noted to that Raton needed to get away from the its the city government’s responsibility.
Can Raton take the advice that Dr. Ivan presented Monday night to the community and make changes that will move this community forward that will help Raton prosper? Stay tuned, as many of the people who saw the presentation expressed their excitement for the future and possibilities to come.
sad to say but Raton will never change. The reason? The people and families who have power here do not want to give that power up. We send our kids off to school to get en education and seriously expect them to come back here to work and have careers. Where do we expect them to find professional careers in this town? I have heard and witnessed two instances where individuals from this community came back and applied for jobs in this town which they were more than qualified for. Both individuals were college graduates with bachelors degrees and a few years experience. In the end, the jobs they applied for were filled; one of the jobs went to a cousin of a city commissioner and the other job was given to a man who had to drive up from Albuquerque every week. Both of these people have since been fired or resigned. How come college graduates from this community cannot find work in Raton? And how can you expect them to stay here? Name one place in this community that can provide a long term career for an individual with a bachelors degree in business admin or CIS that can also pay him a competitive SALARY. And by competitive I mean more than $10 and hour. I know a few individuals in this town right now who possess bachelors degrees who cannot find work! One individual has a degree in computer information systems and is stuck working housekeeping at a hotel! Meanwhile, commissioners families hold professional administrative jobs without any qualifications. If some one can name a company or business that hires college graduates regularly in this community then I will gladly concede. Otherwise, maybe we should stop expecting the young, educated people to come back and help the community when we cant even provide them with any opportunities. We always hear the words “shop local,” well how about we try and “hire local” as well. Stop blaming the youth.