We began by sending eighty letters snail mail in late December 2018 to randomly selected citizens throughout the County (drawn from every zipcode from the voter rolls). The letter explained that we would follow up with a phone call. From these eighty we hoped to glean eleven to sixteen to serve on the SCC Wisdom Council.
The letter to randomly selected citizens went out as a one-pager, double-sided, English/Spanish.
Pasted below are both versions of the letter:
December 19th, 2018
Dear …………..,
Remember the phrase
“We the People”? Here’s your chance for that to mean you.
You’ve been selected from the Santa Cruz County Voter Registrar
to form a Wisdom Council [as defined by Center for Wise Democracy]
for 24 hrs on the topic of the Santa Cruz Branch Line “Rail Corridor.”
The Wisdom Council will develop creative, win/win solutions and reach consensus on the issue. You may be well versed in the subject or you may know nothing about it. Either way your input will be invaluable as a representative of the community. A Dynamic Facilitation facilitator will guide the process. The Council will share their findings with the community at a public workshop immediately following.
The Council will convene in
City of Santa Cruz
on:
- Friday, 1/11/19 [Cruzio classroom, Cedar Street/downtown]
from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm - Saturday, 1/12/19 [Resource Center for Nonviolence, Ocean Street]
And finally (after dinner together) from 9:30 am – 5:00 pm a public workshop from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm [Back at Cruzio in their event space].
Saturday food will be provided
(lunch & dinner).
Where transport would be appreciated we will do our best to arrange pick-up/drop-off / rideshares.
We will reach out to you by phone to answer any and all questions! You are also welcome
to RSVP at: [ ]
We hope you will join us in this exciting exercise to
revitalize democracy.
Sincerely,
Wise Democracy SCC |htttp://peoplewisdom.org
In partnership with
It’s Our Home 501(c)3
based on the model by
Center for Wise Democracy
______________________________________________________________________________
19 de diciembre de 2018
Estimado ………… ..,
¿Recuerda la frase “Nosotros, el pueblo”? Esta es su oportunidad para que eso signifique usted. Ha sido seleccionado del Registro de Votantes del Condado de Santa Cruz para formar un Consejo de Ciudadanos por 24 horas sobre el tema del Corredor Ferroviario de la Línea de Sucursal de Santa Cruz.
”El Consejo de Ciudadanos desarrollará creativas, soluciones y llega a un consenso sobre el tema. Usted puede estar bien versado en el tema o puede no saber nada al respecto. De cualquier manera, su participación será invaluable como representante de la comunidad. Un facilitador guiará el proceso. El Consejo compartirá sus conclusiones con la comunidad en un taller público inmediatamente después.
El Consejo se reunirá en la ciudad de Santa Cruz el
- viernes, 1/11/19 de 6:30 pm a 9:30 pm
- sábado, 12/01/19 de 9:30 am a 5:00 pm incluyendo un taller público de 6:30 pm a 9:30 pm
El sábado tendremos comida (almuerzo y cena). Si se necesita transporte, haremos todo lo posible para organizar lo de ida y vuelta.
Nos comunicaremos con usted por teléfono para responder a todas sus preguntas. También puede confirmar su asistencia en: [ ]
(versión más detallada de esta carta allí). Esperamos que se unan con nosotros en este emocionante ejercicio para revitalizar la democracia.
Atentamente,
Consejo de Ciudadanos | htttp://peoplewisdom.org
En asociación con It’s Our Home 501 (c) 3
basado en el modelo de Center for Wise Democracy