Archive for the ‘community development’ Category
Pre-App Workshop Held for 2020 CDBG
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019Hear About the New Smart Kiosks Coming to Town
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019Historical Society Fundraiser Invite
Saturday, April 13th, 2019The spring fundraiser for the Aurora Historical Society will be a tribute to 170th anniversary of the Burlington Railroad in Aurora. There will be drinks, a buffet supper and a showing of a classic train film at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 North Broadway, Aurora 60505. Executive Director John Jaros will speak about Aurora’s railroad history and the Burlington.
The film is the 1934 classic “Silver Streak” with stars of the day Charles Starrett, Sally Blane, and William Farnum. Although an actor portrayed the engineer in the movie, driving the train for the movie was Aurora’s own Jack Ford.
“The Burlington wouldn’t let anybody else touch those controls,” according to Jaros. And with good reason. Ford was the engineer who set a new record for non-stop speed and distance with his legendary 13-hour run from Denver to Chicago on May 26, 1934.
“The Zephyr was the rock star of the railroading world in the 1930s,” said historical society President Mary Clark Ormond. “Suddenly, bursting from the Industrial Age world of the steam-driven Iron Horse, came this sleek steel beauty of the Jazz Age. People couldn’t get enough of it. No wonder Hollywood made a movie with the Zephyr as the star.”
The event is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person ($60 for members) and may be purchased online at www.aurorahistory.net, by calling (630) 906-0650, or by sending a check to the historical society at P.O. Box 905, Aurora, IL 60507.
The Ever Changing “Leader”
Thursday, April 4th, 2019As I sit contemplating what being an effective leader means to me, I can’t help but to think of all the people who fill this role in our lives. Starting from the day we were born, we have been led by parents, family, teachers, Churches, coaches, bosses, etc.… each one of those people play a crucial part in molding what “leader” means to all of us.
I have had the pleasure of working with nurturing mentors and/or leaders who have a true team approach. They set an exceptional example on how a team mentality works. They found their team members strengths and help build upon those. Kept an open-door policy and making it easy to share ideas leading to growth. It was important that everyone was heard, valued, and encouraged. By doing so it cultivated a positive work environment with a sense of purpose. This energy then transmitted to our client and business interactions. They achieved a happy, productive workplace environment and made their business a true success.
On the extreme opposite, I have experienced working with an unmotivated, micro-manager. The office morale was dark and stressed. There was no room for opposition or new ideas. There were no “good jobs” or “thank you’ s” only “we aren’t doing enough”. One by one, talented, creative, and capable individuals moved on. Our clients felt the negativity resulting in loss of good business. All of this because of one bad leader.
These last few weeks I have had the opportunity to visit with some local business leaders in Aurora. They have shared what their organization’s look for and need in a leader. And taught key points on how they work to meet that need. A common factor I have noted is that a successful organization needs a team. It’s imperative to have a visionary to think big and next level. To have an organizer to help structure those visions and keep things running smoothly. A motivated individual, a doer, to go out and share the vision of the business. It is necessary to build a team that compliments each other’s strengths and weaknesses. One person can’t do it all.
Secondly, there are no two people exactly alike. In the business climate of 2019, you need to be inclusive and open to diversity. We have to look beyond our bias and see the unlimited potential out in the world. As leaders, we may have to push ourselves out of our comfort zone to explore all opportunities. To bring new vision and flavor to thrive in today’s ever-changing business world. Immerse yourself in getting to know who makes up your community. Get out, connect, and ask what their needs are.
I will move forward in my role with a clearer vision as to what type of leader I want to be. My vision is to be positive, motivated, inclusive, goal oriented, intuitive, and warm. I am leading dynamic individuals with different views, qualities, and attributes. It is important that I recognize their strengths and build on them. I am thankful for all the examples, good or bad, from those who have shaped my definition of what being a leader is. It is important to realize the individual impact we have on people. We are either directly or indirectly shaping someone else’s “leader” definition too.
Blanca Townsend is a personal lines account rep with Konen Insurance and a 2019 participant in the Aurora Leadership Academy.
Join JA at the Middle School Career Fair
Friday, March 29th, 2019Junior Achievement is partnering with the Aurora middle schools to host an after school Career Fair on Tuesday, April 16th. We would love you or your organization to participate!!
What? Career Fair for Aurora Middle School Students
Who? Roughly 200 Students
When? Tuesday, April 16, 3:30–6:00pm
Where? Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora, IL 60506
Why? Explore career options with experienced professionals. Research shows that getting students interested in careers in middle school helps improve school performance and job readiness after high school.
Our goal is to bring in people working in the trades or manufacturing to talk informally with individual or small groups of students about their careers from experienced professionals who have been there and are doing (or have done) that! Students love hearing about what you do, what you like and dislike about your field, how you found your career or how it found you! The format is strictly conversational – no presentations needed! You will have the opportunity to setup a table/booth; hands on and interactive activities are welcome and encouraged!
Please let me know by Friday, April 5th if you or someone from your group will join us for a great event!
The Intentionality of Creating a Safe Space
Friday, March 29th, 2019As I think about building organizations and developing leadership potential, I wonder about how we make our organizations and businesses attractive to all people. My belief and value systems include the intentionality of creating safe space for all people to feel welcome. When I go to new places and meet new people in their places of employment, I intentionally look at the art work on the walls. I look at the faces of the people in that work space. Do all the people look the same or is there a rich tapestry of diverse faces? I listen to what people say about their businesses, their customers or clients and the colleagues and I imagine myself becoming engaged with that organization or business.
It is amazing to me what I learn in a relatively short period of time. Along the way, I have learned that perception often becomes reality and that folks rarely get second chances in this space. I have, at times, participated in meetings where there is no complexity of complexions or variance in ages, just a very visible homogeneity. And, in these meetings, I have observed decisions being made and plans being created for groups of people who are not represented. And I marvel at the arrogance of these practices.
I weigh intention versus impact. At times, there is no evil or bad intention behind these situations but the impact is that groups of folks are being left out and excluded. And then I wonder, is the leaving out by design? And if my perception is that folks are not welcome, I will intentionally walk away from that business, organization and opportunity and the impact will be that business has lost a customer, participant or supporter.
We (This is a “global” we) have a very rich history of institutionally and systemically excluding access to opportunities in education, employment, housing and public accommodations to certain groups of people. I believe it is up to current leaders to right these wrongs boldly and without question. Leadership in this space involves having courageous conversations that are uncomfortable with one’s colleagues, business partners, senior management teams and frankly appraising where the organization is along the lines of truly welcoming diversity (in all of its forms) and demonstrating that there is value in being welcoming to all people.
Danise Haburn is the director of resource and development department with Open Door Health Center of Illinois with offices in Aurora and Elgin. Danise has served on the Elgin Human Relations Commission for 12 years and is active participant in creating courageous conversations on the inequities within our communities.
#AuroraChamber News for Week of March 25, 2019
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
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City of Aurora Launches Engagement Website
Monday, March 18th, 2019The City of Aurora has launched a pilot citizen engagement website at www.letstalk.aurora-il.org. This project will allow the City to share information on projects with constituents and to receive feedback that can inform future project action and/or activity.
There are currently three projects on the site: Business Registration, Senior Services, and Citizen Engagement.
Business Registration
The City of Aurora is developing a proposed business registration program for City Council consideration. On the engagement site you will find documents associated with the program and related outreach activity. Engagement tools on this project page include: Forum: moderated discussion among site (registered) participants; Q&A: Participant asked questions with staff responses; Ideas: participant shared ideas.
Senior Services
The City of Aurora is currently assessing the extent of services available to seniors via stakeholder partners to determine the most appropriate services to be delivered by city staff. Engagement tools on this project page include: Forum: moderated discussion among site (registered) participants; Q&A: Participant asked questions with staff responses; Survey: two surveys are provided, one for senior services providers and one for seniors.
A New Way to Engage
This project is a feedback loop on the engagement site. Participants and visitors can what they like about the site and what they would like to see improved. Engagement tools on this project page include: Quick Poll: an opportunity to demonstrate an engagement tool without requiring registration; Ideas: participant-shared ideas; Feedback: a quick survey to gather participant opinions on the site.
In order to participate on any engagement tool (not including the quick poll), a simple registration is required. Registration enables the city to capture demographics that will add nuance to reporting on engagement activity.
This Week’s #AuroraChamber Newsletter
Monday, March 18th, 2019
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Asking “Why”
Monday, March 18th, 2019We all experience failure, especially when doing something new for the first time. All too often, when we fail, those in positions of leadership are quick to ask questions like, “Why did you do that?” or “Why did this happen?”. Questions like these imply an intent to fail and place blame on individuals. No one intends on failing at something, so there is nothing to gain from asking questions like this.
A common leadership style today is one of selfishness and that uses fear as motivation. These are the leaders and managers that ask “why” and look for individuals to blame, without taking any responsibility of their own. They are usually setting out with the goal to solely benefit themselves, rather than for the sake of their team. As a result these teams will continue to fail and fall apart.
Servant leadership is a style that opposes the “why” questions. It is a style that does not look to place blame on individuals, but rather focuses on learning from failure. These leaders know that their role is to guide members of their team to success by being a resource and advocate for them. Servant leadership builds trust within their team, and inspires them to succeed. They don’t ask “why did you do that”, they ask “how can I help you”.
I am fortunate to be part of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy, where I am surrounded by great leaders, and servant leadership is cultivated.
Michael Tucker has been the Environmental Compliance Technician for Fox Metro Water Reclamation District for three years. Mike earned his Bachelors of Science in Health Science from Aurora University in 2014. He currently lives in Montgomery with his wife, Cate, and two-year-old daughter, Aubrey.