Rediscovering the art of conversation

Every Tuesday afternoon, The Gazette's Editorial Board meets to discuss the upcoming week and what topics need to be addressed. I have been a part of this board as a community member for the past year.

Last week, we were discussing the importance of conversations; Are we as neighbors and communities really engaging in and addressing each other in such a way as to solve our problems or have we become so polarized in our desires to 'be right” that we no longer have the ability to listen? And, as the news and information moves more online, how has social media changed the landscape of these conversations?

I began to reflect on this past year and all the various topics we had discussed; including the 2014 Elections, flood control, renewable energy, voting rights, the pros and cons of TIF, the Johnson County Courthouse, the Cedar Rapids Casino, local store closures and the revitalization of the business areas throughout the Corridor. We also discussed what we can learn from our neighborhood and community groups. There is an important perspective which neighborhoods and communities can bring to larger issues like the foundations of cities, health care, elderly services, food insecurity and school disparity. The community members also brought unique views on the legislative agenda for the year, the importance of historical preservation of our neighborhoods and the impact of Ferguson.

To the credit of The Gazette Editorial Board, there really is no topic that is not open for discussion. Besides our weekly planning meetings, we have also met with local, state and national officials and stakeholders with the intent of having a better understanding of their positions and how they best serve Eastern Iowa and the State.

As a former business owner in Iowa City and now a Life and Business Coach serving the Corridor, I am all about the conversation. It is the willingness to have these conversations that drew me to apply to be a member on the Board. I have been involved in community based programs since the late 70s. I have seen that, when community members work directly with governing bodies to solve problems, solutions happen! And they happen in such a way that people are heard and problems are solved to the betterment of the community.

A communications company has an opportunity (some say a responsibility) to deliver the news in a way that best serves the higher good of its readership. The Gazette has, by inviting four very different community members to the conversation, embraced the belief that to truly be committed to 'providing accessible narratives to foster engagement” The Gazette Editorial Board must reach out and actually engage with the community. So each week we look at topics, not only from the point of view of the eight people sitting in that room, but by soliciting guest columns from differing viewpoints. There is a commitment and an integrity I see each week to step back and say, 'How do we best serve our readers and our communities?”

The news and information industry is moving more and more to dissemination of information through the Internet; specifically, through social media. This trend causes me concern. Don't take this concern as a general dislike of social media. I like social media, especially Facebook. It has afforded me the opportunity to stay connected to old friends and colleagues around the world. It gives me the chance to get to know new friends better. It enables me to read beautiful poetry and learn about new authors. It gives me a laugh at some silly video and moves me to tears as I see the pain of a child fighting cancer. I can read about the frustrations of a political act that leaves one wondering 'why” and be proud of a moment of kindness by strangers reaching out to those less fortunate. It allows me to read blogs from around the world and see through a new lens. It lets me know what is trending both locally, nationally and internationally.

On the other hand, social media has also taken me down a road of disbelief at the shallow and cowardly way I have seen people say things that I know would not be said if we were sitting face to face. Words and language can elevate us to a place of a desire to do better and make a difference, or it can cause scars far deeper then we have the ability to see. I have seen too many of those comments of late on various social media platforms including in response to Gazette editorials online. These comments are not conversations. These are words strung together that can inflict hurt and pain. Although, those who write hateful words may feel they are just contributing to a conversation, if these people were present for a reasoned discussion, they would have to take responsibility for their words.

In a day when sound bites dominate the airwaves and the most outrageous remarks seem to get the most coverage, I am humbled to be a part of this group of men and women who meet to discuss in depth the topics that are shaping our future. This group of Editorial Board Members and Community Members is asking the tough questions needing to be asked of our elected officials and community leaders. Every week we sit across a table from each other and discuss and reflect and debate the issues of the day. At times these conversations can be challenging but they are always respectful. We all bring our own point of view, based on our own history and experience. There are some discussions where we agree to disagree. And there are moments when silence falls over the room after we have discussed a tough topic. It is in those moments when I am grateful we are having the conversations no one likes to have, but are so important.

To the question: Can we do a better job in the area of community involvement? I respond: 'Yes, we can always do better.” As Community Members we can help to create events in our communities to get current feedback on what is important and needs to be heard. We can help to bring all generations together, so that we can learn from each other and begin to have new dialogues with respect and concern that we all have something to share. We can help to create a space where we can educate the readership and the community on the importance of honest and respectful discourse of our shared pasts and futures both in person and online. I know for myself I had a paradigm shift after an editorial meeting. It was a conversation we had about holidays and one of the members shared something that left me feeling uncomfortable. But it was in that conversation when I stopped and said, 'Wait, what you have to say is so important. You represent a very real part of this world, I can only see through your eyes.” I learned in that moment to show up differently and to be more open to the opinions of others that I differ with. Because it is listening to the experience, strengths and hopes of everyone that I can enlarge my own view of the community and the world I live in.

' Roxanne Erdahl is a life coach and business consultant in The Corridor, and 2014 community representative to The Gazette's editorial board. Comments: rmerdahl@gmail.com

Interested in joining our editorial board? We are currently seeking community members for 2015.