Written, Hosted, & Produced by Paige Pelonis, Art from Ashes Editor | FT Operation Kickback with Michael Netherly
Okay, I’m just gonna say it … I am ON A FREAKING SOAPBOX in this episode of Talk to Me Tuesday. Apologies in advance for the soapbox rants, but I’ve been in this work for nearly ten years, and I’ve been in this town for more than 30! I have spent so much of that time assuming that I’m not qualified or knowledgable enough about anything to weigh in on the important topics that are central to our community … but not anymore.
This last episode, I went off the rails a tiny bit (not too wild … YET!) about how frustrating it can be when community members are so determined to point fingers and stare at the big picture problems in the community. There will ALWAYS be problems to fix. Why waste time pointing out what isn’t working? It’s exhausting and leads to burn out, and I am feeling so sad for all the well-intended, wholehearted friends and community members out there who are burning out because they are determined to shake fists in the air and get in the faces of “the powers that be” in the name of “advocacy,” and all it does is push people away.
I have said several times in the past couple of weeks:
“Nobody wants to come to the table if it doesn’t feel safe to sit together,”
Paige Pelonis
If every time I sit at your table, you’re aggressively telling me all the ways I’m failing … I’m pretty confident that I won’t be spending much time sitting with you. I’m not saying don’t talk about the tough issues. We have to do that. But I am saying that we’re all humans, and the big systems are almost all broken. Can’t we just talk to each other and see how we can actually work together to fix the pieces that are within our reach?
Anyway. I go on and on about some of this and why it’s top of mind for me lately in the latest episode of what I am calling: Talk to Me Tuesday. There’s lots of good music in the episode, too, so if you are settling into your work day and looking for some good jams with a smattering of heart felt commentary about your community … this episode is for you. Thanks for listening!
This episode of Talk to Me Tuesday aired live on CityHeART Radio on Tues. March 12, 2024 at 10am
Talk to Me Tuesday is officially a CityHeART Radio Voices from THE HUB show dedicated to getting on the soapbox and feeling free to express what’s really top of mind when it comes to the tough topics for our community. This is launching a bit prematurely for the upcoming Spring 2024 season, but that’s okay by me. Talk to Me Tuesday will run live on CityHeART Radio on Tuesdays from 10am-2pm. A segment of Operation Kickback by my good friend comes on at 1pm, another than that, it’s anybody’s platform. If you don’t jump in, I’ll just be doin’ lots of talking … but it would be WAY cooler if you text us live at (562) LB8-0710 to get on the show and share what’s on YOUR heart.