Leaders lead, workers work -- mobilizing the right mix in Norristown on youth violence

Many people have read the various articles that have recently described Norristown council's efforts to distribute the remaining funds in the Norristown Weed & Seed program's 2011 budget. Getting to this point has not been easy.

There are many who believe the government that governs best, governs least.

America has had a love affair with the mythic narrative of simplicity, though most of what makes us what we are as Americans is very complex.

The struggles in this country that overturned slavery, or gave women the right to vote, or are opening doors of recognition for marriage equality for same-gender couples are never issues that simply come down to are you for or against.

Democracy has so many voices and so many people who want their opinions heard, that you must have people who can sift through all the noise and all of the arguments and challenge us to come together. We must have people who can see the complex and different issues and points of view and still struggle to lead a working majority who can forge consensus and get things done.

In a thought -- we need leaders and workers.

We need people to express their points of view, but we also need people to point us to that view of getting something done.

And that is exactly where we are in Norristown on youth violence.

I am a person that believes in strategy and planning. As a former business journalist, I often read the business plans of many, many, start-up businesses. I became as good as a big five consultant in my ability to evaluate and review a strategic document that a new company used to gain contracts or raise money from investors.

These documents served a crucial function. Without such documents, a business could not get what it needed to make things or sell services.

The willingness to make things or provide services was not enough. You needed a plan, a strategy, a vision. In a word you needed leadership as much as you needed workmanship if the business was going to be successful.



A public debate will begin in earnest soon about how to use the remaining 2011 Weed & Seed budget. Many will come asking for money for their WORK, their own group's WORK. And that is fine.

I also hope, many will come with a vision to use this small amount of money for a vision of a measurable effort that will significantly and sustainably reduce youth violence in Norristown over time and for years to come.

You know there is a stereotype cliche that says "too many chiefs, not enough Indians."

However, frankly, my experience is that too many folks in Norristown, or too many of the same folks in Norristown show up for community efforts with a willingness to work, but not the wherewithal to lead. Leadership and workmanship are not the exact same thing.

When I complained about the state budget, how it was zeroing out Weed & Seed, a prominent leader in Norristown challenged me to go out and figure out a way to replace W&S. Well frankly, this process has been part of my fight to do just that.

The point is not another group of talking heads, but rather, a group of leaders, mobilizing resources and measuring outcomes from a comprehensive, community strategy. And while residential input is welcome, it's not enough to just live in Norristown, we need folks who can lead in Norristown.

I recently learn that Montco OIC has a Norristown Youth Development Council. Denise Ashe has a group of young people her organization is working with, and a group of partners who collaborate with OIC. These efforts must be measured for success or improvement, and if warranted, must be expanded with leaders from other grassroots and community organizations.

But beyond that, I know of no other serious, meaningful collaborative that isn't more than non-profits drinking coffee and eating bagels.

That's the cabal of inertia we're trying to break up in creating a new comprehensive community collaborative.

These non-profits are not driven by performance based solutions that could potentially put them out of business. I mean, solve a social problem and the social services agency goes away, right? Or at least has to reinvent itself.

We have a concentration of service agencies in Norristown that warrants a real discussion and measure of if these folks simply serve problems but do not solve problems.

Moreover, this process may be contentious because a few vocal residents will show up and attempt to have non-stop debate drive the process. They will remind of us every effort that has failed in the past. Such historical memory, while useful information, does not mean someone cannot go ahead and lead to forge an effort that might succeed.

There is little I can do about that, other than to set forth an agenda and a goal that challenges everyone who participates to raise the bar, and to focus on something bigger and greater, that requires critical thought and broad-based action.


We don't just need more volunteers, we need greater VISION.


We don't just need more laborers, we need more leaders. Those who can assign, manage and conceive of the work, as well as get down in the trenches, dig the ditches, pour the mortar, sweep the floor and wash the walls!


What happens if we have lots of workers, those who can take direction (and often wrongly want to give it), but no leaders, those who can conceive and offer direction?

Well, if that happens, we will look at the social problems, or institutional weaknesses that have to be addressed, but believe if we just work harder, alone, we can address them.

You know, we can blame parents. But what can we do to impact the reality of disinterested or uninvolved parents? Can we just tell babies who have had babies, you need to do better? Will finger wagging and moralizing alone do it? What if those parents need childcare, and job training, and affordable housing? Those are system issues that cannot just be resolved by a little prayer and an extra part-time job. Can we solve this by simply locking them and their children behind bars when they break curfew? If not, what else might we do as a community that can be measured and sustained?

If kids need something to do, what might we do in light of the existing things they can do and places they can go to do it?

So here, I am challenging you all to go beyond and beneath the surface. I know you all know thinking, planning and executing is needed here.

In a word, leadership will be needed to reduce youth violence in a significant and sustainable way. That's the goal we ALL should be working toward.