For over a decade, Martha Jones has been a pillar of her community, known for her unwavering dedication to both long-time residents and college students in her neighborhood near the Texas Christian University. Her journey toward becoming a grassroots volunteer leader shows the transformative power of civic engagement and the impact one passionate individual can have on their community.
"Engagement happens when everyone in a neighborhood or a community becomes involved in a common goal. Those goals may change. It doesn't have to always be about what's best for the neighborhood or the local school. It is about how we all work together to create a better community for everybody!"
The TCU Neighbor to Neighbor Program
Living near a large university with thousands of students presents unique challenges for any community. Martha's involvement in a contentious mediation process between the City of Fort Worth and community leaders over zoning and noise ordinances could have left her disillusioned. Instead, it reinforced her commitment to becoming a local policy advocate dedicated to fostering collaboration and building trust between the city, residents, the university, and its students.
Since then, Martha's guiding principle has remained simple yet powerful: "If you're willing to sit down and listen to the other side, you can always find common ground somewhere." This approach has been key to her success in bridging gaps within her community.
When the city created the TCU Neighbor to Neighbor program, Martha volunteered to join the committee. Her compassion for both long-time residents and new student neighbors was clear. She saw the program not just as a way to address community concerns, but as an opportunity to nurture and guide students navigating independence for the first time.
"The TCU Neighbor to Neighbor program has been the most successful program I've volunteered to be a part of. It's representatives from city staff, city council, staff at TCU Housing, student body, and the neighborhoods that surround TCU. We're all working together to make a good experience for neighbors and the students in the neighborhood and work out any issues."
The program empowered neighbors by providing regular opportunities to meet with the dean of students, the student council president, law enforcement, and city leaders. This approach helped everyone put faces and names to the challenges they were facing. Years later, she remains confident that this model can be effective in any neighborhood.
"Every neighborhood has its own set of issues, but that kind of collaboration between city staff, city leaders, and neighbors can work regardless of the issue."
The Roots of Volunteerism
Martha's passion for community service stems from her family history. She recalls,
"My mother volunteered as a board member for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, so I started volunteering in the gift shop and different capacities there. Volunteering is something I've always had a passion for and enjoyed."
This early exposure to volunteerism shaped Martha's lifelong commitment to giving back and being actively involved in her community. She reflects,
"There's a certain amount of satisfaction when you get involved in your neighborhood, join with other neighbors to put your resources together, and become part owners of your neighborhood. You become invested."
The Impact of Grassroots Volunteers
Martha points out that anyone can make a difference, regardless of wealth or connections. She shares candidly, "I am not a big donor and don't go to expensive fundraisers. I used to think you had to be in that category or connected to make a difference, but now I know that's just not the case. Our accomplishments in my neighborhood were all done with down-to-earth neighbors both with and without college degrees."
This message is particularly empowering for those who may feel that their contributions could be insignificant in the eyes of others. Martha emphasizes,
"Anybody can make a difference if they're willing to give their time. I've worked an entire career in accounting without a formal college degree, and I think it's the connections I made through work and school have made me a successful volunteer."
Advice for Aspiring Volunteers
For those looking to get involved in their communities, Martha offers practical and encouraging advice about taking that first step:
Start with your interests
"Get involved with something you love. Think about what you enjoy doing and see if you can get plugged in."
Begin small
Martha advises, "You don't have to serve 40 hours a week. Start out volunteering for one or two hours. See if you like it, but just remember to start small and don't think you have to jump in and do everything. Every little bit will help!"
Be open to building new connections
"When you volunteer, you meet people from different walks of life you might not usually meet," Martha points out. "Sometimes, it's just the neighbor who's lived next door to you for years, but when there's a crisis, you meet, talk, communicate, and discover things about them that you didn't know."
Skills to be Successful
According to Martha, any of these skills can be helpful if you're interested in volunteering. The key is being self-aware: "Find out what's available and what fits your skill set."
Willingness to participate
"I think the most important skill someone wanting to volunteer needs is just the desire to be involved."
Communication skills
"Being unafraid to reach out or make a phone call."
Adaptability
"For those intimidated by making calls, there's still email, there are all forms. You don't have to go to a city council meeting and stand up and speak."
Writing skills
"You can write letters or emails or hand out information."
Public speaking or negotiation skills
"I'm good at talking to people and don't mind speaking at city council meetings. That's what I'm good at. Other people are good at negotiating one-on-one with a developer or a city council person."
Commitment
"All that matters is that you are willing and want to be a part of your community by investing your time!"
She emphasizes that different people have different strengths, with many ways to contribute. Her overarching message is that anyone can make a difference using the gifts they've been given!
Overcoming Challenges
One of the biggest hurdles Martha faced when she first began volunteering was knowing where to start. She reflects, "It would have been helpful if I had known or better understood how and who to go to because it can be so overwhelming."
She believes it's vital that local governments offer educational resources and collaborative engagement opportunities that clearly outline how residents can get involved. She explains,
"I think the hardest part of volunteering can be when you stumble across something you need to get done and have no idea where to start. Who do you talk to? That's why cities should provide strong community engagement programs - to give the average person a place to start."
She emphasizes the importance of these efforts being consistent and frequent, ensuring that neighbors remain informed about potential local policy changes and ongoing developments.
Conclusion
Martha Jones' dedication underscores the transformative power of volunteerism and grassroots engagement. Her efforts to foster dialogue, build connections, and drive collaboration have made a lasting impact on her community.
Her story inspires others to take part, regardless of how small their contributions may seem. As Martha puts it, “Every little bit helps!” By pursuing personal interests, starting small, and embracing new opportunities, anyone can drive positive change in their community.
Additional Information
Watch the video below to learn more about the award-winning TCU Neighbor to Neighbor program.