<div dir="ltr">Hello all,<div><br></div><div>Please allow me to put a big pause on this. I think we've hit a seminal moment of change. We have likely made this A & O team greater than CCGA itself, and making CCGA better is good. The paragraph to introduce A & O reads better than The CCGA Organization "Who We Are" which is supposed to say what CCGA is all about on our website. In looking at the website (which needs serious work to bring CCGA into the 21st century), I think we have hit upon how we want to revise our "Who We Are" which currently doesn't say what we should be saying and DOING in CCGA. With incorporation of much of the first paragraph from May & Amy's paragraphs to our website's explanation of who we are, we will have all of CCGA teams and potentially subscribers working together without making the A & O more ambitious than all of CCGA. Then the A & O team will be more in parallel with our other teams</div><div><br></div><div>My take away if you'll allow me for a moment, is that May's paragraph is best suited to a committee. I personally don't have a problem with repeating community. Some things bear repeating and the flow isn't bad. You may still come up with another term. -- maybe just say our gardens </div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Advocacy and Outreach is centered on community with the
focus <span style="color:rgb(68,114,196)">and belief that
community gardens are important community building vehicles. </span> What we see is often shaped by perspective <span style="color:rgb(192,0,0)">and narrowed by custom and convention</span><span style="color:rgb(68,114,196)">.</span> Advocacy and Outreach is committed to the
vision that everyone has a role to play and can contribute to the community as
a whole, and we support and encourage the participation of every
individual. When a problem or issue is
identified, outreach is the natural next step; through advocacy, we have the potential to engage
in other areas as well</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bullet points are same as edited by Amy</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>develop and secure resources to create
healthier, greener communities</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>increase access to safe water, healthy soil, and
compost for gardeners</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>provide a platform to share and address issues
that arise in community gardens</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>build awareness about and address city-wide
policy issues that affect community gardens</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span>work to increase equity and lessen division in
community gardening</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Here is what "Who We Are" can look like</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Our city is home to hundreds of community gardens, and the
Chicago Community Gardeners Association has created a network of those
gardeners that is truly gardener-designed and gardener-led, to ensure the
sustainability and vibrancy of Chicago gardens for years to come. CCGA is
composed of working groups that meet regularly <b><span style="color:rgb(68,114,196)">to support community gardens as a vehicle for building
sustainable communities and enriching the natural ecosystem in Chicago and
beyond. We are committed to creating a space where each voice and perspective
is appreciated and heard. We support and encourage the participation of every
individual.</span></b> <b><span style="color:rgb(68,114,196)">While
Chicago's neighborhood gardens are our immediate focus, we have the potential
to engage with other areas through our teams of Communication, Education,
Resources and Distribution, and Advocacy and Outreach because many issues
affect our larger shared environment. </span></b>CCGA helps to find solutions
to common challenges such as leadership transitions, access to safe water and
land, and community organizing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I still think we need a Development Committee</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lorraine</p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 1in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a name="_Hlk85189576"> </a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br> </div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 10:48 AM Julie Samuels <<a href="mailto:jsamuels1966@gmail.com" target="_blank">jsamuels1966@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Yes, the next step is to list everything that can be done or provided to accomplish the "actions". This is what we should list and then provide to our "leaders" to see if they agree and/or will want to add the items they think should be there. For example if we agree that we want and need to <b>collaborate </b>- how will we do that & why, to who or what and when</div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 6:41 PM Julie Samuels <<a href="mailto:jsamuels1966@gmail.com" target="_blank">jsamuels1966@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Thank you Mamie, I agree with your suggestions...because the "ing" implies "action" and that's what we want all of us and everyone else to take on.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Julie</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 3:14 PM Mamie Gray via Communications <<a href="mailto:communications@chicagocommunitygardens.org" target="_blank">communications@chicagocommunitygardens.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Hello all, Four suggestions for <u>consideration</u>: 1) each bullet point verb ending consistently in “ing;” 2) instead of getting resources, sharing resources; 3) providing the platform to providing platforms; and 4) being a cohesive voice. Mamie</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 14, 2021 at 12:23 PM Lorraine Kells via Communications <<a href="mailto:communications@chicagocommunitygardens.org" target="_blank">communications@chicagocommunitygardens.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hello,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amy & I met with Julie to draft a new paragraph to put up on the website. I took notes and here is a rough draft of what we came up with. Please look at the website "Current Projects" section to make this paragraph and the draft work together as well as what we have in the Newsletter. Let's give this a once over and then send it to the entire committee for review or send yo all now?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Advocacy and Outreach is centered on community with a focus
on community gardens. What we see is
often shaped by perspective, custom and convention. Advocacy and Outreach is committed to a way of
seeing that every individual has a part to play. When a problem or issue is
identified, outreach is the next step. Our Chicago neighborhoods are our
immediate focus, but we have the possibility of reaching out to all growing
spaces through advocacy. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The things we are talking about are:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>getting resources to create healthier, greener
communities</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>increase access to water, healthy soil, and compost
for gardeners</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>providing the platform for issues that arise in
community gardening</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>increase awareness and address city wide policy
issues that affect community gardens</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>bringing a cohesive voice to lessen division and widen inequity in community gardening</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>establish beneficial connections between people
and/or organizations</p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Thanks</p></div><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lorraine</p></div>
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