How Asking "Who's Missing?" is Becoming Colorado Springs' Most Powerful Tool for Building Stronger Neighborhoods
- Catherine Huckaby
- Jul 10, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 5
When Thomas Thompson left his 25-year ministry career to join Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade’s administration, he brought something unexpected to city hall: a pastor's heart for people and a relentless focus on inclusion. As an advisor in the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs, Thomas has spent the last two years discovering that the skills that made him effective in ministry translate remarkably well to public service.
"I have a life purpose that drives me. I find my life as I give it away. And I stole that from Jesus."
This philosophy has shaped both his pastoral work and his current role in local government, where he focuses on community activation and building partnerships across Colorado Springs' diverse neighborhoods.
Why Local Government Needs People Like Thomas (and You!)
Thomas's journey into public service was not traditional. With a degree in English from Texas A&M and a graduate degree in church planting from Dallas Seminary, he admits,
"I have zero training for my job. There’s nothing on my resume, except when you look beyond working with people and volunteers."
But that unconventional background has become one of his greatest strengths. His experience leading volunteers and managing church communities prepared him for the collaborative nature of local government work, especially in a city where resources are stretched thin.
Colorado Springs, Colorado faces a unique challenge: it is the 39th largest city in America but operates with the 100th largest budget. This statistic is not a typo! "We are working off a budget of about 440 million when most cities our size are looking at $1.5 to $3 billion," he notes.
"So, we are forced to do a lot of work with very little, which pushes us out into collaborative partnerships with the private, business and nonprofit sectors."
However, his team sees this constraint as an opportunity. As he puts it, "We have to learn to work better together with people." It is a philosophy that aligns perfectly with his ministry background, where building community and fostering collaboration were essential skills.
The Power of Asking "Who's Not Here?"
One of Thomas's defining characteristics, both in ministry and municipal work, is his focus on inclusion. Since high school, he has been driven by a simple but powerful question: "Who's not welcome? Who needs to be included? Who needs to be pulled in?"
This mindset has proven invaluable in his current role. He reflects,
"Even when I started getting into church work, it was always the question of ‘who's not here, who's not included here.' That's still a driving question for me today. I'm driven to serve by that idea of who's not brought in and who's being left out."
In city government, this means constantly evaluating stakeholder engagement. "As we sit down and think through an issue and I look around the table, I'm like, okay, who's not here? Who do we need to go out and get? And I love being the person to go out and try to woo them in."
This approach has helped Colorado Springs avoid the common trap of engaging with the same voices repeatedly while missing entire segments of the community.
Transforming Community Engagement Through Neighborhood Connections
So far, their most significant initiative to date has been the "1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings" campaign, designed to combat social isolation by encouraging residents to connect with their neighbors. The project was inspired by research complied from a former U.S. Surgeon General, who identified isolation as the nation's top public health crisis, and a NextDoor study showing that knowing just six neighbors' names can significantly reduce feelings of isolation.
Rather than the city hosting events, his team challenged residents to organize their own gatherings—everything from "donuts on the driveway" to backyard barbecues to neighborhood walks. The city provided toolkits, downloadable invitations, and even magnets to help people track their neighbors' names.
The results were remarkable: "
We didn't actually get to 1,000 gatherings, but we did get about 900. There are two things of which I was most proud. One, we have 77 identifiable neighborhoods in our city and every one of those had a gathering. That is 100% participation! The second thing is that about 10,000 people in our survey met someone new."
The initiative also had practical benefits for the city. Thomas recounts a story about a neighborhood grouch who attended one of these gatherings. When neighbors began engaging with him in conversation, they discovered that he was a Gulf War veteran struggling with PTSD. His lawn had become overgrown due to some of the challenges he was facing, and one neighbor stepped forward to offer regular help with lawn maintenance.
"The way the mayor says that story is that when neighbors serve their neighbor, the city doesn't have to send neighborhood services out to find this guy or do his work."
Defining Community Engagement That Actually Works
When asked how he defines community engagement, Thomas offers a refreshingly practical perspective that focuses on both proactive and reactive elements.
"I think of community engagement in two ways. I think of proactive and reactive. Reactive in that we have engaged with the community in such a way that there are enough resources so when they reach out to us, they will get a response."
The reactive component ensures that residents feel heard, even when the city cannot accommodate every request. "People know, my city listens to me. They do not always agree with me. They do not do what I say. But I was heard.”
The proactive side focuses on the question of how they can activate the community. One answer: the “1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings”, when the city challenged the community to plan and host 1,000 gatherings on their own.
This approach recognizes that effective community engagement is not just about listening, it is also about empowering residents to take ownership of their neighborhoods and civic life.
Why Local Politics Matters More Than National Headlines
He acknowledges the challenge of engaging people who are overwhelmed by national political divisions and global crises. "Unfortunately, a lot of things happening at the federal level they're assuming also happen at the local level," he observes.
But he has found success in refocusing conversations on immediate, tangible issues. Mayor Mobolade ran as an independent, he notes, because
"Potholes are not Republican or Democrat. They are potholes. We have to set all that other stuff aside and say, we are just here to pragmatically solve our community's problems."
This approach extends to how the mayor governs and models his commitment to building a collaborative team that bridges political divides.
"He hired two of his political opponents from the campaign - one to work for him and one for his advisory council."
Rather than viewing former rivals as threats to be marginalized, the mayor recognized their value and potential contributions to effective governance. This inclusive leadership style reflects a broader philosophy that good ideas can come from anywhere, regardless of political affiliation, and that diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making processes.
5 Essential Skills for Aspiring Public Servants
1. Leverage Your Existing Skills
"If they are an engineer, architect, mechanic or in communications, whatever skill or field they're currently in might have an analog in the government," he advises.
2. Cultivate Curiosity Above All Else
"I think the number one skill would be curiosity," Thomas emphasizes. "A lot of times someone will ask me how something works in the city, and I get to say I don't know but let me go find out."
This beginner's mindset helps him represent residents who do not understand government processes. "In a sense I represent the 80% of our people who don't know how things work."
3. Learn to Convene, Not Control
Thomas is working on becoming better at "facilitating and convening things" rather than trying to run everything himself. "I don't need you to be an executive director of these different initiatives. I need you to be a convener," his mayor told him recently.
4. Understand How Government Actually Works
"If you understand how your city government works, what's effective and what actually helps get things, then you become an incredibly valuable person to your business, church or nonprofit."
5. Develop Resilience for Public Scrutiny
He acknowledges that public service also requires thick skin. "It is hard to read some of the online comments when there's this assumption that the government's out there sneaking around." But he has learned to focus on tangible results rather than getting caught up in criticism.
The Ministry Connection in Public Service
Thomas's faith background emerges as a crucial foundation for his work, though he is careful to note that effective public servants come from many backgrounds.
"Someone asked me a while back, what was it like leaving the ministry and I said, I don't know, I have no idea what that's like, I'm doing more ministry now than I've ever done."
This perspective reflects a broader trend he has observed in municipal hiring. "If you've worked in churches or nonprofits, then you are forced to learn how to lead people willing to volunteer their time. We have to go another route."
He feels the skills developed in ministry—building consensus, managing volunteers, serving diverse constituencies, and maintaining hope in the face of challenges—translate remarkably well to local government work.
Looking Forward: Lessons in Collaborative Leadership
As he looks ahead to his remaining years in his current role, he is focused on refining his approach to collaborative leadership. The new "Keep It Clean COS" citywide cleanup initiative represents his effort to convene and empower rather than control.
"I really am trying to run that program more as though I helped convene, and shape it while empowering others, but I'm not going to run it. I cannot be that person. I am looking forward to learning how to do that better over the next couple years so I can take on more projects and hand them off."
This evolution reflects a mature understanding of sustainable community engagement—creating systems and relationships that can thrive beyond any individual leader's tenure.
Why You Should Consider Local Government Service
Thomas's story offers compelling reasons for others to consider public service, even temporarily.
"I have been excited and pleasantly surprised at how almost everyone I've met working here at the city could be making more money somewhere else. They are here because they love their city. They want to serve people and make a difference."
For those concerned about making local government a long-term career, he offers this perspective:
"Even if you get a chance to do a two- or four-year stint in local government, go do it! You will gain such great experience and connections."
The experience you will gain will provide valuable insights regardless of where someone's career leads next. "You come out on the other side with great value because now you know how local government works."
The Ripple Effects of Authentic Public Service
Thomas's journey from pastor to public servant illustrates how diverse backgrounds can strengthen local government. His focus on inclusion, community activation, and collaborative problem-solving has created tangible benefits for Colorado Springs residents—from 10,000 new neighbor connections to more effective use of city resources.
Most importantly, his work demonstrates that effective community engagement is not about grand gestures or expensive programs. Sometimes it is as simple as asking "who's not here?" and then going out to invite them in. It is about lowering barriers to participation and empowering residents to own their communities.
As cities across the nation grapple with declining civic engagement and growing political polarization, his approach offers a path forward grounded in relationships, curiosity, and genuine service. His story reminds us that local government, at its best, is about neighbors helping neighbors solve shared problems—and that’s worthy of our best people and our most creative thinking.
Whether you are considering a career change, looking for ways to get more involved in your community, or simply trying to understand how local government can work better, his experience offers both inspiration and practical guidance. The next time you drive past city hall, remember that inside those walls are people like Thomas—servants with pastors' hearts and pragmatic minds, working to build stronger communities one relationship at a time.
Resources and Organizations Mentioned
Leadocracy by Geoff Smart explores the challenges of ineffective government leadership and proposes a straightforward solution: hiring more great leaders into public service. The book offers actionable strategies to attract top talent into government roles, arguing that this shift can significantly improve government performance and quality of life for all.
Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam analyzes the decline of social capital in the United States since 1950, highlighting how reduced participation in community organizations and in-person social activities has weakened civic engagement. He argues that this trend undermines the foundations of democracy and calls for renewed efforts to rebuild community connections.
The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon centers on the practical application of the biblical command to "love your neighbor as yourself," urging readers to focus on building genuine relationships with those living nearby. It shares actionable advice for fostering authentic community, emphasizing small, consistent acts of kindness, reciprocal hospitality, and setting healthy boundaries while loving neighbors unconditionally.
Join or Die is a 2023 Netflix documentary that examines the importance of community connections and club participation, drawing on the research of political scientist Robert Putnam. Featuring interviews with notable figures, the film highlights how social capital and civic engagement are vital to a healthy democracy and personal well-being.
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is a global organization dedicated to advancing and improving public participation and community engagement practices. Through professional development, certification, and advocacy, IAP2 supports individuals and organizations in fostering meaningful public involvement in decision-making processes worldwide.
The Governor's Fellowship of Colorado is a 10-month leadership program for mid- and senior-level professionals committed to public service and community engagement. Fellows develop deep relationships with civic leaders, explore state challenges, and enhance their leadership skills to better serve Colorado across sectors and regions.
George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service offers graduate and undergraduate programs in public service, international affairs, and political science, inspired by President George H.W. Bush’s belief that "public service is a noble calling." The school is recognized for its rigorous curriculum, practitioner-led instruction, and commitment to preparing students for impactful careers in government, nonprofit, and related fields.
