One of the three legs of Citizens4Community’s mission is “Civility.” We believe it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, and that common ground is more easily found – even across wide differences – when we can see our shared humanity.
In that spirit, C4C Interim Executive Director Kellen Klein made a non-partisan* public statement at last week’s City Council meeting regarding the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter – a topic that has attracted heated debate in our community.
You can read Kellen’s statement in full below, or watch a video recording of the meeting (his remarks begin at 2:10:45). We welcome your continued feedback about our efforts to foster civil discourse and constructive dialogue in Sisters Country!
*C4C is a non-partisan, independent non-profit. We do not take positions on public policy. Whenever we choose to engage in public discourse or policy discussions, our only agenda is to encourage civility, robust community engagement, and collaborative decision making.
Statement from Kellen Klein – Interim Executive Director, Citizens4Community
September 5, 2023 | Sisters City Council Special Meeting
Hello friends and neighbors. My name is Kellen Klein, and I live in the ClearPine neighborhood of Sisters.
I am also the Interim Executive Director of Citizens4Community. We are a non-profit that works to foster a more connected community in Sisters Country by encouraging civility, collaboration, and civic engagement.
In line with our non-partisan mission, I am not here tonight to advocate for or against the cold-weather shelter. Instead, I'm here to make a few comments and requests regarding how we all engage around this important issue.
First, I'd like to thank all of you for showing up. Whether you're an unpaid city council member or a deeply passionate community advocate or a concerned parent or business owner – you are here because you care, and that is amazing. Of course we don't all care about the same things, but I would so much rather live in a community of people who show up to debate the hard issues than in one where people are disengaged and disaffected. So thank you for being here.
Second, I'd like to acknowledge how raw and deeply personal this topic is for so many in this community. We all have our own rich, unique experiences that influence our respectful definitions of safety, of home, of community, of love. This discussion tonight might seem like it's just about a building, but in reality it touches on all of those definitions and the deep-seated feelings that often come with them.
So when others speak tonight, I invite you to listen with a curious mind and a compassionate heart. What is it about their lived experience that might have caused them to say that? What do their words teach you about what they love? When we seek this shared humanity, it becomes a lot easier to honor someone else's truth, even when it doesn't align with our own. And if you should choose to speak tonight, I invite you to – in the words of Marshall Rosenberg, founder of Non-Violent Communication – “have the courage to speak your truth with love.”
Finally, I'd like to remind everyone of the absurd amount of creativity and talent present in this community. We are a town full of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, advocates, lawyers, doctors, quilters, caregivers, athletes, dirtbags, one journalist in a filthy cowboy hat…you name it. But most of all, we are doers. We roll up our sleeves and we get stuff done, because we all care about this little slice of paradise that we've chosen to call home.
Regardless of how this decision goes tonight, tomorrow we go back to being neighbors. And this is not the last hard challenge we'll face together. So whether you leave here tonight pissed off or joyous, I hope that you'll commit to staying engaged, staying creative, and staying collaborative as we work to build a community where all of us can thrive.
And for those of you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work right away, please consider joining our free workshop at the fire hall tomorrow at 9 AM, titled “Stop Shouting: Collaboration Through Candid Conversation.” Thank you.