There are community-based organizations that struggle constantly to hear from new people and compel/motivate/provide avenues for all people of all backgrounds to be involved. We are in a constant circle of hearing that our elected board is not diverse enough (which is true and very apparent) and simultaneously seeing minimal turnout to vote for someone new. In my experience, a lot of people fall into a trap of wanting to hold on to values that are foundational to the community without understanding that those might be principles that need to morph to fit the changing needs of the people who live, work and visit. Conversations become defensive, not productive, and that’s disheartening. I know there are people doing incredible things here, but sometimes they are drowned out by the same voices that do not represent the whole of our community.