Last night I attended an Education Town Hall in Ward 8 hosted by Mayor Fenty. The auditorium had no air conditioning and was extremely hot, letting residents experience what their children have to go through attending classes. But the place was packed, as parents and activists alike filled the room to let their views be heard.
There were multiple tables at the meeting, each one with a facilitator who helped participants offer their ideas. Each table came up with their top ideas and presented them to the Mayor who guided the entire forum. I was very impressed with the efficiency and effectiveness of this model and its ability to draw opinions out of residents.
Ideas ranging from increased security to more busing to more parental involvement were discussed at each table and ultimately presented to the Mayor. Whether or not the Mayor takes all of these ideas and puts them into practice is up to him and his staff, but the fact that he shows up and wants to hear what residents have to say goes a long way. I look forward to attending more of these and encourage city residents to do the same.
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