Where I Stand is a new series inspired by the Chattanooga Stand survey. Today’s guest author is Alli Crumley, stay-at-home mom and blogger. Alli has lived in the Chattanooga area for 10 years and resides with her family in St. Elmo.
First, when I think of Chattanooga Stand, all I can think about is the R.E.M. song.
"Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before"
Is that on purpose? Did the fine folks at Stand have R.E.M. on repeat on their iPods? I think we will never know.
But having R.E.M. on the brain is rather appropriate for me. Three years ago, I did stop and think about the place I was living. Three years ago, I realized the Chattanooga area had been my home for seven years. As someone who moved around a lot during the growing up years, it was pretty significant to me to realize I had lived here the longest I have lived in any one place my whole life. Somehow Chattanooga became my hometown. And I was really happy about it.
Today I find myself a stay-at-home-mom (transitioning to a homeschooling mom) and I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in the Chattanooga Stand survey. If you aren't familiar with it, Chattanooga Stand is a group asking Chattanooga residents to fill out a really easy questionnaire. There are four questions and then some demographic stuff. You can answer them really quickly with one word answers (maybe faster than a diaper change) or really take some time to think them through and give sentences for answers (that might take as long as it takes your kid to watch Cars for the umpteenth time).
Where I Stand:
I took the survey because I believe people who want change to happen need to speak up in some way. The survey gives everyone a voice to express gushing reviews of the scenic city as well as a way to point out exactly how imperfect we are. But the survey really challenged me when I went to answer the last question: "What actions, big or small, can you take to help?" And I realized that where I stand is really acknowledging how, without action, our answers to the questions will be meaningless.
Two areas that are personal to me:
1) Voter turn out. I'm always disappointed to read voter turn out numbers after local elections. People who really care about the local issues and who is representing them should be making the time to understand the issues/ candidates and vote on them. Voting is a family affair at our house, and taking our children to the polls demonstrates how we care about what is happening in our city/ state/ country. Maybe we need to take it a step further to volunteer during elections—either by campaigning or sitting at the polls on election day.
2) Community participation. I love my neighborhood and have really been proud of the way we have begun to embrace Calvin Donaldson as the neighborhood school. By participating in the life of the school in some way, it gives children the knowledge that people in their neighborhood (and in turn, their city) really do care how they do and want them to succeed. When looking at the big picture, their success will help shape Chattanooga for the better. (And yes, a homeschooling mom can support a neighborhood school.)
I really hope more people take the survey and then take some action to help improve the city in some way. Knowing where other people stand is going to help move Chattanooga forward in the future.
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