By Sandra Ahrens, member of JONAH’s Leadership Training Team
Imagine you receive such an invitation: “All We Need is You”. Accepting entails a journey, but other than that, all you have to do is show up. Everything you need will be there when you arrive.The promise of such a place is tempting enough for you to check it out. Upon arrival, you meet others who got the same invitation. They too were drawn by the claim, and curious enough to make the trip.
Once everyone is there, a speaker steps forward and says, “Thank you so much for coming! We’re very glad you are here for the community of your dreams. Each of you truly belongs here. And we need every one of you, for each person brings a gift critical to this community.” Since no one has brought a single thing, the response is confusion, protest, even irritation. Some folks worry they’d failed to read the invitation thoroughly. Others think they’re being asked for a donation. A few were pretty sure this was a big, crazy scam.
As the hubbub seems headed toward furor, the speaker says, “Please don’t worry! We meant what we said. All we need is you. Whether you realize it or not, each of you carries a bit of this dream. Each piece is unique and essential. How we put the pieces together is a bit of a puzzle, but there are infinite ways to combine them. This will be a challenge and hard work, but we promise you it will also be rewarding, even fun.”
In JONAH, training is such an invitation, as well as the support for creating a community that reflects our deepest hopes and truest dreams. Our work is deep because it needs to be. It is not quick or superficial. To understand how change happens, we need time, tools, and practice. Most of all, we need each other. Each of us carries a dream of true community. When we train together, we are gathering the wisdom of the group and building a collective dream that leads us on to action.
JONAH has intentionally planned a series of trainings in early 2026 that will accompany you on your journey one step at a time. First, you’re welcome to attend our New Member Training on February 2 to learn all about how JONAH organizes and creates change in the Chippewa Valley. Then, we have a Public Meeting on February 16 to introduce you to other JONAH members and build relationships while hearing updates on our current work. Finally, join us on March 7 for our training on Building Relationships Through 1-1 Conversations, the foundational tool of grassroots community organizing.