A Discussion about Building Community

​On Wednesday January 14 our community was honored to have Anthony Flaccavento, Executive Director of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI), join us for a discussion of building community and better communication. 

Alex Fane, member of Clallam County Democrats and Indivisible Sequim, reflects on what he learned from that discussion:

1) It was an honest conversation and debrief on how the 2016 and 2024 elections were lost:

• We need to face decades of wrong Dem policies that allowed hollowing out of industry, small business, farmers.
• Too many people felt unseen for too long — especially in rural, working, and resource-based communities
• We need to face messaging that reinforces Dems seen as elitists. (Environmentalists may be seen as elitists vs timber workers.)

2) Present situation:

• Democrats, and perhaps Indivisible groups too, are maybe still simply known as protesters, not fixing the divide
• Protest alone isn’t enough. What changes trust is showing up locally, listening like a neighbor, and doing visible good work that helps people where they live.
• In my view, we cannot depend solely on mid-term elections this November to stop this present coup against the Constitution.
• The world is becoming more volatile — economically, technologically, and politically — and that makes community trust more important than ever.

3) The cure and suggestions offered:

• Think, talk, act differently. Talk like a neighbor. Listen. 
• Strong communities don’t form overnight. They’re built through everyday acts: shared projects, honest conversations, local food systems, fair local news, and mutual aid that respects dignity. We need community good works that are regular and visible.
• Sample: Community Works Communication tools are available
  ○ Public News Service, also in Spanish, provides trusted fair news 
  ○ Cardinal News as a sample non-profit news source  
• “Dirt Voter Organizing” Ask: What are you interested in? Why are you so pissed off?  Show that we respect them.
• An example is Mamdani, who never veers from his line
• The example of Appalachian Harvest Food Hub 

4) How it affects me personally and fits into my world:

• All these approaches make sense, no matter what happens to the country internally or the U.S. becoming a world pariah.
• Let's heal the divide now so our communities in such an environment can work together instead of resorting to partisan violence.
• Every network, every friendship, every good deed makes that more possible. Every hateful thought, word, or deed makes that less probable.
• We don't have any time to waste on rebooting our words and actions.
• See how our local Indivisible and immigration rights advocacy can adapt to these methods.
• Need to guide group emotions at rallies to humanize the victims of ICE repression, appeal to compassion rather than incite violence or anger from MAGA neighbors.
• If we want to avoid fear and division, the work starts now — not with ideology, but with relationships. Every bridge built locally makes our communities safer, kinder, and more resilient — no matter what comes next.

​