March 2021, Letter from the President
As I’ve been working on upgrading the Butchers Hill website, and consolidating our social media presence, I’ve found myself reflecting often on messaging and intent. And I was reminded recently that sometimes, even as we make strides to bring in new voices, we need to be conscious of forcing assimilation rather than opening up space to listen. Are we asking new neighbors, or neighbors new to the work of the Association, to listen to us rather than hearing what they want or need to say? As with everything, there are caveats to giving equal weight to all voices. It’s the paradox of tolerance that drives us to be intolerant of intolerance. But I digress there.
The Association needs to bring in money to help meet its goals. And we rely on our neighbors, for the most part, to make that happen. But do all our neighbors know and understand what we do, why we do it, or who inspires us? Would more people be inclined to volunteer their time and their skills, if they saw the value in the Association’s work? These are timeless questions for non-profits. There is always worry about balancing messaging with calls for help and being able to live up to the community’s mission.
So, as I mentioned last month, we are releasing a Neighbor Engagement Survey - in part, designed to hear back from you as to how we’re doing. Asking if there are better ways to reach you and to get you to come out and volunteer. There are some very basic questions in this survey with which we’re hoping to lay the foundation for more targeted surveys in the future - hopefully small and to the point because no one wants to be inundated. I would be so appreciative if you took some time to go through it.
And to answer some previously stated questions:
What do we do? The BHA does our best to advocate for all our neighbors so that they can live in a safe, happy, and healthy environment. We have several committees dedicated to making our streets greener, less dangerous from traffic and the bit of crime we experience, and adding some of the charm to “Charm City.”
Why do we do it? Many of us see the benefit of active engagement within our community - especially now that we’re spending even more time during our week within it. Personally, I find enjoyment in helping people where I can.
Who inspires us? Well, frankly, it’s all of you. We strive to live up to our moniker of “Friendliest Neighborhood in Baltimore” and that starts with caring for the people next door, around the corner, and up the block. Every time I see kids out playing, people walking their dogs or walking to a local amenity, or friends hanging out on a stoop, I’m inspired to do what I can to make this area they chose to live in the best it can be.
So, can I ask you to reflect for yourself on what you do, why you do it, and who inspires you? I think y’all might have some interesting answers.
Be well,
Bri McNamara
(they/them)
