You Can Fit In Community Engagement EVEN WITH Your Busy Schedule

Linda Beck, South Orange

You can and you should do it NOW - even during our social pause.  You CAN because your town needs so much help that they're willing to accept anything - in any amount - that you can offer. You WILL because we all want to be an inspiration for our kids, our friends' kids and our community and you're not exception.  Which is not to say you're not exceptional.

Now that that's settled, let's get you going.  Here are a few tips to get you started in your new role as an exemplary SOMA citizen.  Congrats on the job.

1. Offer to help in your area of interest or expertise.  Do you find yourself concerned by the amount of single-use plastic in circulation?  The South Orange or Maplewood Green Teams need you.  They are still holding meetings (virtually), working on ordinances, and planning ways to make our community more beautiful and our community more sustainability-minded.  Are you saavy in Photoshop?  Offer some graphic design hours for a local organization - our organizations and businesses are taking a hit during this temporary shut down.  Reach out and see if there's anything you can do from a far.  There's always a need for social media content to get information on the feeds, which could equate a clever ad campaign concept or actual photoshop skills.  You could use your influence and enthusiasm to rally groups for local art openings, performance events, and to serve as strong bodies to help with volunteering.  Feeling like your skills at the plate go unused year after year?  Consider ramping up to coach a local kids' baseball team.  There will be baseball again someday. 
   
   The point is, choose the simplest path to engagement.  You are an expert at something - maybe you're even a SECRET expert.  EXPOSE YOURSELF!  Choose something that is effortless for you and is only minimally inconvenient.  By making it easy for yourself, you make your volunteerism sustainable. 
2. But!  You have no idea who to contact.  Someday, you'll get around to figuring it out.  Let me help.  Our two towns have approachable, helpful local officials.  Really, they're the tops. 
   
   Here is the list of Trustees for the Township of South Orange Village. 
   Here's the site for the Township Committee of the Town of Maplewood.
   
   Click on the link and you'll see some names.  If you don't recognize any, just pick the name that jumps out.  If you pick the wrong one, he or she will help you find the right person.  Remember, as elected officials, they also want to make the town better just like you.
   
   
3. I'm just so busy and I have a family.  Well then just start by committing to ONE community event.  A great way to find out about those is on Facebook.  (I know, I'm sorry) Most local groups have a page and list their events.  Some of those events ask you do something to help for an hour or so and some just need an audience.  MANY of them would be enriching for your whole family.  And MANY are offering online live performances right now.  Make it special.  Put it on the calendar and log in as a family for that local ukulele sing along or painting tutorial or webinar.
   
   And again, a number of our local groups could use some administrative and/or social media help - choose an organization that inspires you and compose some clever posts during your lunch break and when we're back in action, on the train.  It may even keep you from scrolling through your own Instagram feed for an hour. 

By making time for your community you'll reengage with subjects you care about - those that have perhaps atrophied from lack of attention.  You'll have inspiring conversations with people you can meet for face to face (although right now, that translates to Zoom or Facetime) coffee who are just as enthused about your quirky interests as you are.  Your art history degree, your loathing of invasive species, or your longing for field hockey... they all have a a place here in SOMA.  They just need your efforts to get things going and get our community together.  And when we emerge from our protective bubbles, you can stand in the sunshine and beam at the sprouts in the groundwork you have laid.

Easy peasy, because you love your new job!

P.S.  Compilation of local Facebook Pages to come.