July 2018
Margaret Mead said it best, of course, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” But the proof is in seeing it happen before one’s own eyes.
Between January and April of this year we organized and held four public forums on the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA). Forums were meticulously planned, from keynote speaker down to the enticing selection of diet-crushing treats. Each forum had its own specialized topic, such as local training and solar job creation or strengthening our community.
But could we get an audience given the potentially dreadful weather and certain wonkiness of the presentations? Absolutely! In total we had 144 members of the public show up for the forums, with many coming to all four. They filled out questionnaires regarding their interests: job training (23), roof-top solar (20), home energy efficiency improvement (21), and community solar (37). Some attendees indicated a willingness to go to future hearings or write letters to the editor. We heard about (and from) the students entering ICC’s solar-pipeline program (first class now all graduated). Valuable insights were garnered from local participants as well as speakers from around the state. By most measures, the forums were a complete success. But we aren’t done yet with FEJA.
The Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance (CIHCA) in collaboration with partners HOI Sierra Club, Illinois People’s Action (IPA) and others is crafting programs to hear from you about what can be done under the opportunities opened up by FEJA (and maybe a FEJA 2.0) to raise up our community. Your voice matters, join in and speak up.
A special tip of the hat to those who contributed so many hours of effort to create this series of FEJA forums: master of ceremonies Tracy Fox, HOI leader Joyce Blumenshine, IPA organizer Dawn Dannenbring Carlson, Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign organizer Ryan Hidden, Rev. Tony Pierce, and Pastor Alphonso Lyons.
Joe Laszlo, CIHCA facilitator