Click HERE to submit a comment about Michael's Blog
2/8/10
You Can Change Our City.
so what's stopping you?
One thing I remember from my days in university is that I wanted my life to make a difference, to have an impact for good. Most of my classmates also had this desire, and I would bet that most of you share it as well.
The fact is, you have the power to change the world and to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others. You have this power, and there are countless opportunities to use it to influence the course of history by getting active in our City.
Your first step is to recognize that power is not given to you by someone else, it is something that you create through your own initiative. It grows when you get others involved. Authority can be given, but only by exercising authority effectively will you have power. Empowerment is a process that starts with you.
Empowering yourself begins with ideas. or in most cases, one idea that you are passionate about which also resonates with other people. History is full of such ideas. Women's suffrage, the abolition of slavery, American independence, the French revolution, the union movement and countless other seismic social and political changes, were driven by people with charismatic ideas that captured the hearts and minds of others.
Your idea may be a solution to poverty or homelessness. It may be a new concept of urban planning or public transit. It could have to do with problems in your neighbourhood, with the improvement of public health or the greening of our urban landscape.
Look at what happened recently when local people got together to bring forward better ideas for waterfront development in the west end of Toronto. Their inspiring ideas and relentless advocacy paved the way for a beautiful new community resource that will be a significant improvement over original proposals.
Many of history's greatest ideas, ideas that have lead to massive paradigm shifts, have come from outside of the political, bureaucratic or scientific establishment. Such ideas bear fruit when people have the courage to bring it forward, the passion to inspire others to join them, the willingness to collaborate with others to build a movement, and the commitment to see the process through to the end.
Whether or not you have your great idea yet, if you want to make a difference in our City, I can help you to do it. There are dozens of ways you can get involved either in politics or in the community. One is to volunteer to help your Councillor. I have a number of people of all ages helping my staff and I in the community and at City Hall. It is a great way to learn how City government works and to make a useful contribution at the same time. I will be happy to help you find a volunteer opportunity with the Councillor in your area. In my office, we like to take advantage of your special skills and talents wherever they lie.
Another way you can drive positive change in our City is to get involved in a community organization that you feel passionate about. There are local groups that range from community orchestras and choirs to mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth, from food banks to Business Improvement Areas and from community events to environmental conservation and the preservation of local history. My Ward, for example, is home to an organization called 54 East that collects and displays local historical material as part of its community-building activities. It was established by Professor Rafael Gomez from the U of T. The organization is volunteer-run and is always looking for new blood. My office also works closely with a charity called Project Engagement. Project Engagement runs youth leadership development programs as well as a Christmas food campaign to help feed needy families during the holidays.
There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved in community-based service organizations. I would be delighted to help you find one. Our City, its government, its social conscience and its future needs you. You can run the City. You can help to shape Toronto's future. Your talent, your creativity, your energy and your passion matter.
Municipal government is the most accessible level of government. It is the closest to the people. By getting involved as a volunteer with City government or a local organization, you will infuse the system with new vitality. If you want to get in the game, the opportunities are endless. I'd be honored to help you get started. Send me an email or call my office. My staff and I would be delighted to help you to get involved.
You Can Change Our City.
so what's stopping you?
One thing I remember from my days in university is that I wanted my life to make a difference, to have an impact for good. Most of my classmates also had this desire, and I would bet that most of you share it as well.
The fact is, you have the power to change the world and to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others. You have this power, and there are countless opportunities to use it to influence the course of history by getting active in our City.
Your first step is to recognize that power is not given to you by someone else, it is something that you create through your own initiative. It grows when you get others involved. Authority can be given, but only by exercising authority effectively will you have power. Empowerment is a process that starts with you.
Empowering yourself begins with ideas. or in most cases, one idea that you are passionate about which also resonates with other people. History is full of such ideas. Women's suffrage, the abolition of slavery, American independence, the French revolution, the union movement and countless other seismic social and political changes, were driven by people with charismatic ideas that captured the hearts and minds of others.
Your idea may be a solution to poverty or homelessness. It may be a new concept of urban planning or public transit. It could have to do with problems in your neighbourhood, with the improvement of public health or the greening of our urban landscape.
Look at what happened recently when local people got together to bring forward better ideas for waterfront development in the west end of Toronto. Their inspiring ideas and relentless advocacy paved the way for a beautiful new community resource that will be a significant improvement over original proposals.
Many of history's greatest ideas, ideas that have lead to massive paradigm shifts, have come from outside of the political, bureaucratic or scientific establishment. Such ideas bear fruit when people have the courage to bring it forward, the passion to inspire others to join them, the willingness to collaborate with others to build a movement, and the commitment to see the process through to the end.
Whether or not you have your great idea yet, if you want to make a difference in our City, I can help you to do it. There are dozens of ways you can get involved either in politics or in the community. One is to volunteer to help your Councillor. I have a number of people of all ages helping my staff and I in the community and at City Hall. It is a great way to learn how City government works and to make a useful contribution at the same time. I will be happy to help you find a volunteer opportunity with the Councillor in your area. In my office, we like to take advantage of your special skills and talents wherever they lie.
Another way you can drive positive change in our City is to get involved in a community organization that you feel passionate about. There are local groups that range from community orchestras and choirs to mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth, from food banks to Business Improvement Areas and from community events to environmental conservation and the preservation of local history. My Ward, for example, is home to an organization called 54 East that collects and displays local historical material as part of its community-building activities. It was established by Professor Rafael Gomez from the U of T. The organization is volunteer-run and is always looking for new blood. My office also works closely with a charity called Project Engagement. Project Engagement runs youth leadership development programs as well as a Christmas food campaign to help feed needy families during the holidays.
There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved in community-based service organizations. I would be delighted to help you find one. Our City, its government, its social conscience and its future needs you. You can run the City. You can help to shape Toronto's future. Your talent, your creativity, your energy and your passion matter.
Municipal government is the most accessible level of government. It is the closest to the people. By getting involved as a volunteer with City government or a local organization, you will infuse the system with new vitality. If you want to get in the game, the opportunities are endless. I'd be honored to help you get started. Send me an email or call my office. My staff and I would be delighted to help you to get involved.