As I participate in the National Community Tax Coalition 7th Annual Conference in San Antonio I am amazed and impressed at the level of dialogue focused on “community engagement”.   Though I hear similar conversations across the country, the one thing that is present in these conversations is the focus on relationship and communication.

So far I see a genuine and authentic desire to develop relationships with constituents and clients.  A real move to not look at clients as statistics or data but as people with valuable opinions, diverse perspectives, and meaningful input.  In other words they want to develop relationships and communicate with the people they serve – Not talking at them but sharing and growing with them.  What’s the lesson for all of us as we strive to improve community and effect positive change?   Move beyond transactional relationships to transformational relationships.  If we are to ever truly “connect” within and across sectors we’re going to have to take the time to talk to one another – and more importantly – take the time to listen.