by Matt Huggins, PRC-Saltillo Ambassador
In my town there are hundreds of miles of nature trails. My town got some government funding to pave a small part of one of the nature trails. Recently some people are opposed to paving because they said it would harm the environment. I was interviewed for my town newspaper. It showed the trail was inaccessible to wheelchairs. The town officials said paving a small part of the nature trail wouldn't harm the environment. And I spoke at my town meeting saying if paving wouldn't harm the environment, please let us support equal access to our trail for everyone to enjoy.
The town meeting is difficult to explain, it was about zoning bylaws that the town has (it is way over my head.) The people who were opposed to paving the trail wanted to change some of the zoning bylaws. They were outnumbered two to one. The town didn't change the bylaws. I would expect the paving of the trail would begin sometime this summer.
It felt really good to advocate for others because I have learned from my mother how to advocate for others the way she advocated for me.
Communicators In Action - advocacy, Huggins