LOCAL LISTENING – SESSION 2
On Tuesday, June 13, St. Matt’s hosted a second West Side listening session. You might recall that our first listening session was on May 2.
At the May 2 meeting, we focused on needs of the West Side. Two main themes emerged: needs of Youth, and the need for Community Building.
At our second session on the 13th, we continued the conversation we began in May. Two questions framed our discussion: What resources are available to us? What resources are needed?
The group worked together to list, post and group the resources identified, whether existing or desired. (This data is available upon request. Please email me if interested.)
We then discussed possible next steps. Some of my favorites included a resource fair, a West Side resource handbook, and the continued use of Loaves & Fishes suppers as a way for groups to meet. That’s what we did for both listening sessions: we invited people to come at 5:30 p.m. for supper, then stay for a meeting at 6:30 p.m.
We expect to have a third listening session in September, possibly at another location. St. Matt’s has initiated these conversations. However, we want community partners to help. Partnerships increase capacity.
Note that this West Side initiative is separate from our seeking to collaborate with St. Stan’s. Both are important, and it’s entirely possible that there’ll be some common ground. It’s too soon to tell.
INSURANCE SEMINAR
Four of us from St. Matt’s attended the annual Catholic Mutual General Insurance Seminar on June 9. I’m grateful to Bob Bejblik, Tom Kegler and Angela Rakow for their participation.
Feel free to ask Bob, Tom and Angela what they learned. I know I learned more about ways to reduce risk. That’s important when you’re self-insured, as we are through Catholic Mutual.
One of the sessions I attended dealt with the important issue of cybersecurity. A takeaway: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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