Page 10 - voices-09-2021

COVER STORY

the neighbors were really concerned about. drivers. We raised enough money for a sit down

For example, in Dallas, Texas, the number one dinner for around 400 and a jukebox. We had 25
concern was rats. In Iowa, dogs were a problem. or 30 organizations represented there that night.
Dogs bit people and they chased people. There
were issues with housing. There were a lot of Let’s jump to more recent history. Has your

issues. It wasn’t that we solved all of them. But communications degree been useful in your current
we began empowering neighborhood groups to role?
take on some of the causes that were important Yes. And I’d also say Toastmasters added a
to them. huge part to what I’m doing right now. What

really nailed this job more than anything else
What do you feel was your greatest contribution was Toastmasters.
during that period in your life? I work for a consortium called Community
I guess there were a number of successes. Works program. Our members are referred to

One of my favorite happened in Dallas. The us by the DHS. I’m the life skills development
Martin Luther King Health Center served low specialist. A large part of what I do is active
income women and children—many, many listening. When I started working for the
thousands—e year. The decision was to close it company, they had just five workshops. I was

because it wasn’t making enough money. We got told they needed a lot more development. And
the governor and a lot of press there—we had a I thought, “Okay, what are some of the things
big organization. While the press was there, rats that make life skills? Well, how about learning to
started running around the hallways. We kept

that health center. That was fun. It was in 1982.
I can tell you there were some screams when
those rats came down the hallway. That was a
major win. That really was good.

Later back in Minneapolis, I worked as a
VISTA volunteer for the United Handicapped
Federation. I was a liaison to the St. Paul Board
of Nursing. The contribution I made there had

to do with a big convention we were holding.
We needed money.
I became the project leader for fundraising
based on an idea I had. My idea was that we

should have a program and sell advertising space
in it. Governor Rudy Perpich bought the back
page, the whole back cover. We sold pages to our
oxygen suppliers, wheelchair suppliers, and van

10 ONE COMMUNITY