Mayor About Town
by Julie Akins
On my mind today is how important it is for Ashland to fling open the windows and doors and come out of our pandemic hiding places to gather together in community.
It’s time, as a woman with tears in her eyes told me recently, to bring the “magic back to Ashland.”
How do we do it?
I think it starts by belonging. The simplicity of inclusion is merely offering an opportunity to belong.
Our future, quite literally, involves the difference between exclusion and inclusion, between belonging or not.
I thought about this recently at an event we organized at the Lithia Park Bandshell. The day was sunny on May1 and we sat on the grass barefoot cheering on our neighbors who came to entertain. We smiled at each other, young and old, we sang, we danced, we pounded a drum.
No one was thinking about being inclusive, because we just were– we belonged.
There’s an old proverb— ‘A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.’
No one wants to burn down anything they belong to. There are many who’ve not felt the embrace of our Ashland village, and it has the potential to rip the bonds that tie us together, but we can change that.
I think it starts with listening and speaking out for those who fear to do so. It means realizing our own lived experience is not the default setting for being alive AND it’s also true that all living creatures hope to be healthy, well fed, sheltered and loved.
There is commonality.
From a policy standpoint that means caring for our planet that offers food and clean water, it means caring for the people who cultivate our food and for those who bring it to market. It means looking at our healthcare systems and thinking if they really serve all who suffer and want to be well. It means looking at how we house people–is it fair? Can everyone who needs shelter find it? Is there a way to organize around the needs of our community’s people?
In short: can Ashland respond to our people’s and planet’s needs?
I think so. And we must balance this against the backdrop of rising inflation and against an economy that is punishing for working people.
We can say yes where we have said no.
It’s easy to blame or divide or sell outrage. And sometimes it’s even justified. But I don’t see it working, do you?
You belong here. Your ideas count. We need you reflected in our art, our community voice and our decisions and we need you to be able to afford to live here.
I see some great ideas happening in Talent and Phoenix and Medford and all kinds of places where people are willing.
In the weeks to come I hope to share the ideas of others in thoughtful ways. If you’d like to contribute your ideas of how we can feed, house and sustain ourselves and our planet–share them and I’ll pass it along with your name and idea.
You belong. Your ideas belong. And together we’re going to get this right.
Email Mayor Julie Akins at julie@council.ashland.or.us
