Jack Dastoli owns a rental company in Kalamazoo. He’s not a politician, he’s a small business owner. But, like many citizens, he has plenty of ideas about what can work and what can fail in Michigan’s future. So he came to one of the Center for Michigan’s Community Conversations the other day. This is what he hoped leaders in Lansing would take from his participation…
“Do I think they’ll really listen to what we say?” Dastoli told the West Michigan Business Review. “I would hope so. And if not, we’ve got to start at this level and find legislators who will, because without legislators who are going to follow the thoughts of the people instead of their own partisan ideas, we’re never going to improve things.”
Citizens like Mr. Dastoli are gathering all across the state every week to discuss Michigan’s future. So far, 1,600 people have participated in Community Conversations in 2009. It’s all part of the Michigan’s Defining Moment Public Engagement Campaign, a statewide effort to heighten citizen dialogue and develop a common ground agenda for Michigan’s future — an agenda that can serve as the center of debate in the crucial 2010 statewide elections in which every elected leader in Lansing faces re-election and many will be replaced due to term limits.
Don’t sit idly by while others determine your state’s future! Join in today!
To participate in, or convene, a Community Conversation in your area, please contact our outreach coordinators…
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: Kim Johnson, 248-321-8635
LANSING-FLINT-JACKSON-OUTSTATE: Nancy Short, 202-390-5766
GRAND RAPIDS-WEST MICHIGAN: Amy Morris and Brian Brown, 517-485-6600
KALAMAZOO-SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Blaine Lam, 269-345-2007
