know those things until you work in those communities, learn their history, learn what made them into the community they are. In fact, I got a picture of the groundbreaking. [Sen. Woodard picks up a framed photo from a crowded shelf next to his desk] That’s the groundbreaking right there … for the Walltown Park Recreation Center. And, wow. Wilma Holmes was one of the leaders of the Walltown community and we were so proud that day of working on that. So, working with the matriarchs and patriarchs—mostly matriarchs—of that community, and I’ve just run out of room obviously for these pictures, but I keep them close by for that reason… With everything we just talked about, what do you think are a few good takeaways in terms of communication, civility, working in a sometimes-tense kind of world but identifying the kinds of issues that you can talk about together to get things done? MW: I hope people will approach living in community together with an open mind, with open ears, maybe an open heart. And, like I said, just understanding what’s going on in that other community, what their needs are, not coming into that community with preconceived ideas based on race or class or income or any other human thing that divides us. And just being open to hearing how we can live and work together in community. Sounds a bit idealistic, I guess. But just being open to that. And I think as leaders it’s our job to go into those communities. [Sen. Woodard picks up another framed image with the words, “Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. With the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, ‘We have done this ourselves.’”] It’s kind of a mantra for me. Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism, an artist, a fantastic quote and I always loved it… I always tried to do it in my work representing different communities here at the General Assembly because, you know, I came up through Durham and, you know, over the last few decades, we’ve been very successful in some ways. We have our challenges, obviously, but we’ve been successful in some ways. But I never wanted to go into Roxboro or Yanceyville or Oxford or Butner and say, “Hey, this is what you all need to do.” You know, take the lessons I’ve learned and go listen… We don’t know everything, we shouldn’t know everything. These are part-time jobs for goodness sake. Whether you work here or in your home community, these are part-time jobs. The best thing we can do is to be that connector. So, you know, connecting the Butner officials with the Durham folks and just let them come in and see, pick and choose which things might work for them and helping them find those connections of what works in their community. So anyway, that’s what we do the best, I think, is to be that connector. I just, I mean, I love introducing people to other folks and all that, letting them work it out. And then get out of the way. Support them as we need to, but let them do it. What’s ahead for you? MW: (Durham) Mayor Pro Tem (and 2024 NCLM President) Mark Middleton (at the CityVision conference) said, “I’m a nerd.” I just love digging into the policy of it all. And I look at other elected officials, I saw so many friends (at the conference). At our table, we were talking about all the issues and how much you learn—in both of my elected positions: city council and now state Senate. I learn something every day. And I learn something new all the time… And so, I think I would love to get back and help, at least share what I’ve got and connect people to information. Legislator Q&A: Senator Mike Woodard We don’t know everything, we shouldn’t know everything. These are part-time jobs for goodness sake. Whether you work here or in your home community, these are part-time jobs. The best thing we can do is to be that connector. » Sen. Mike Woodard, 22nd District, Durham County NCLM.ORG 21
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