Conversation Arlington
In 2008, Leadership UA launched its first evening of community discussion called
"Conversation Arlington." LUA hosted a new initiative to encourage and facilitate open community discussion
on April 24th, 2008 at the UA High School. This nonpartisan forum was open to all UA residents and there was no cost
to attend.
The topic for the first participant led "Conversation Arlington" discussion forum was the redevelopment
of the Northam Park area. Having community discussion on this topic was important in the research phase as the ultimate
plan will impact the community because of the public and private properties involved: Tremont Elementary School, Main
Library, St. Agatha Church as well as the city owned community pool and park facilities.
The discussion forum opened with a background
briefing of the underlying issues followed by an open space where the attendees set the topic of their given discussion room.
Open Space discussions accept that whoever shows up is the right group to discuss the topic at hand. Representatives from
schools, the city, and the library participated and listened to the ideas of all participants.
The 2008 LUA Class developed Conversation
Arlington to provide a independently funded and non-biased public forum for discussion of issues and opportunities facing
Upper Arlington. Steve Kiser, of the 2008 class, said: "As a resident of Arlington, I see Conversation Arlington
as the way for our community to bring out ideas on topics that are sensitive to address, yet are important to the city."
LUA will to continue to offer Conversation Arlington evenings as a service to our community.