Voices

It seems so simple to ask someone who has the most to gain from a solution what they think that solution should be. It's harder to walk the walk on this for some reason. We create surveys or community engagement opportunities that make the same voices louder or are filled with those who have some kind of "expertise" in the field. I feel like us experts, and I would myself in that group, can over complicate things by not listening enough. We often listen looking to feed our own solutions we've fallen in love with. 

I've seen a few people who have a gift for leading amazing, big and bold ideas and simultaneously staying in touch with the community they are serving. It's a special thing and something I'm working to build into my own practice as well.