Being Better Stewards of Our Community

In my last blog, I addressed the need to create a vision for Collin County. Once we've attained a sustainable vision, we must do everything we can to actively pursue as many acts and organized methods of unity as possible. Only by bringing together individuals, organizations, and one cohesive community-at-large in Collin County, can we achieve a true sense of unity.

Months before announcing my candidacy to be the next Collin County Democratic Party Chair, I analyzed the current CCDP infrastructure. With a focus on candidate awareness, leadership training, and public outreach, along with conversations with multiple people and like-minded organizations, not all of which were affiliated with the Democratic Party, I came up with the following assessment and action plan:

As the assessment reflects, Collin County Democratic Party needs to create a Vision of our future with Unity at the core to drive an Empowerment message of hope for candidates and all citizens of Collin County. 

After attending a seminar a couple of weeks ago, in which the topic was systemic privilege and oppression, I was further reminded that Unity starts with empathy. All too often in Collin County, Democrats, who are not elected leaders or regular volunteers, are told that they are not members of the CCDP and occasionally made to feel bad for offering an opinion about making the party better. 

If this is true for registered Democrats reaching out to their local party that they feel doesn't represent all we could be, what must the general community of Collin County think of the Collin County Democratic Party?

Within the CCDP itself, we have to better coordinate moderation and organization so that each individual understands the importance of interpersonal communications, respecting the needs of the group, and embracing how this will have larger implications for us as a whole. 

Externally, are we reaching out, in a sustainable manner, to the Collin County community as a whole? We have so many like-minded individuals and organizations in our county, working towards common progressive goals, who the CCDP doesn't actively maintain positive relationships with. At the very least, this list includes:

• (remarkably) Democratic Party affiliated groups
• Resistance groups
• Political activist organizations
• Advocacy groups and organizations
• Municipal groups
• Religious organizations
• Schools

How many more can you think of? 

None of this is implying that the CCDP hasn't tried reaching out to other groups or hasn't maintained some relations with a few. But in my conversations and interactions with our community, we haven't scratched the surface. This is particularly worrisome, for a non-profit organization like the Collin County Democratic Party, that presumably represents all of our nation's people. 

At the end of the day, there's never one right answer, but there's always a better answer. Let's work together with our community, our nation, and our shared world, to create a sustainable path to our future in Collin County, one that reflects a sensible path of Vision, Unity, and Empowerment. From there, the Collin County Democratic Party, will simply grow organically.

Building A Better Vision for Our Community

It all starts with vision. A vision of who we are. Who we want to be. Who we can be.

To build a better Collin County Democratic Party, we have to look at Collin County both as a whole and as individual citizens working toward a common cause. To change our county, and inspire others to want to change with us, we have to reassess our place in it.

"I've always been more interested in the future than in the past." Grace Hopper

A good first step is working together to create a Vision Statement that exemplifies the diversity of Collin County while growing future Democratic leaders along the way. The design and implementation of that Vision Statement is intended to complement our Mission in getting Democrats elected as well as being a constant reminder to always look forward.

We need to be less concerned with how much better the party is today compared with the problems of yesterday. This disrespects our attention to the present, and undermines our need to focus on the future. Whether we actively participate in the Collin County Democratic Party or not, citizens of Collin County must unite as one to make any difference at all, for all.

Visualizing unity applies to our internal interactions as well as our public outreach with the community at large. We need to do a better job aligning ourselves with like-minded community organizations working on common causes. This is paramount to the public having confidence us. First impressions make all the difference. 

Maintaining a consistent vision of empowering candidates to have the tools and resources to run and win is vital to Collin County Democratic Party. When the public appreciates the voter education and public outreach efforts we employ, and sees that we can consistently win partisan offices, financial and volunteer support will grow organically. 

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Train-the-trainer programs are critical to our elected leaders having innovative decision making abilities. We need to be grooming the next generation of future leaders as soon as we step foot into office with the goal being for them to take over when our term is over. 

Ultimately, our vision is like our humanity, doing the most we can as a collective whole for the good of all while always being focused on the future. We need to embrace regular continuous improvement and strategic development programs that encapsulate visions of change. Otherwise, we're doing ourselves the greatest disservice of all - accepting that there is only one vision of our future.

What's your vision of the future? And what does it hold for Collin County?

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing a series of blogs that focus on my vision as a Candidate for Collin County Democratic Party Chair. #ProgressTakesChange 

Suggestion for Vision, Unity, and Empowerment in the Democratic Party

Block Walking in Plano

Speech at a DFW Rally 2017

Hi. I'm Stirling, and I’m running for Plano City Council, Place 8.

A native Texan, born in San Antonio, raised in Central Texas, married in Lewisville. Shortly after the birth of my son in Grapevine, my family visited, fell in love with, and moved to Plano. I've spent a lot of time in North DFW, and now I’m ready to serve our community.

Our community is part of who we all are. It's where all of us - families and individuals alike - share a common appreciation for this little piece of Texas. But what it really is and who we really are is so much more. Just look at us from under the microscope. Because, under the microscope, you quickly come to realize, that deep in the heart of Texas, we’re all the same.

Under the Microscope: We are a representation of who inspires us and who we inspire. As I walked with so many inspired people in the Women’s March on Austin a few short weeks ago, I was reminded of so many women heroes: Rosa Parks, Ann Richards, Michelle Obama, Wendy Davis, Hillary Clinton. They teach us to think about ourselves and our actions from another person’s point of view and to be a better person because of it.

Under the Microscope:  We find a purpose for ourselves and in others. When we consider that women make up 50% of the population of our city, of DFW, of our state, of our nation, of our planet yet equal pay for equal work or that women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies is arguable by so many, we realize that feminism serves a purpose; when we consider that too many people in Texas still feel a need to wave the confederate flag or join the KKK, that Black Lives Matter serves a purpose; and, when we consider that the state of Texas is willing to spend billions of dollars and lose billions more in revenue to keep a person born the way they are out of the bathroom they were born to go into, that the LGBTQIA community serves a purpose.

Under the Microscope:  the sum of our humanity is what makes us, us. And our humanity really shows us that no matter how small our little corner of the world may seem, that each and every person can and does make a difference in their own communities.

I can tell you what I love about Plano and how I want to make sure those things are available for others to love as well: the libraries, the parks, the nature trails, the diverse populations, the huge number of ethnic grocery stores and restaurants, the public schools (your kid gets to take Chinese, for crying out loud! Non-Plano parents are always so surprised and jealous that Chinese is even an option!) all making Plano this amazing, wonderful, beautiful, vibrant little jewel in Texas.

So, if you’re from Plano, remember to vote for me on May 6th, to be your City Councilperson for Place 8, and let me help you and your family continue to enjoy all of the comforts of life in the city you call home.

Thank you. I'm Stirling Morris, and I appreciate your support.

Meet and Greet in Plano for City Council

Why are you qualified for this position?

I’ve spent the last fifteen years in the construction industry, working with developers, owners, architects, contractors, and even cities to build various projects that benefit and enhance communities. I’ve worked on projects that were added to the National Register of Historic Places, and I understand what goes into preserving our community treasures as well as how new development impacts existing infrastructure and the environment.
I’ve served on non-profit boards, volunteered for charitable organizations, and been part of executive steering committees.

Beyond my work life though, I’m qualified for this position because I’m a citizen of Plano. I live and shop here. I eat here. I form relationships and friendships here. While I’ve never held a political office, I’m a firm believer that government should always be, as Abraham Lincoln put it,  “...of the people, by the people and for the people.” As citizens, we should all feel empowered to add our voices to the government, and that often starts locally. Not everyone comes from politics, but everyone should have an opportunity to add their voice to the conversation.

Why are you running for a place on the Plano City Council?

Plano is my home. Some people call a place home because that’s where they’ve always been, but my family and I deliberately chose Plano. We made the decision to settle here instead of any other city in DFW because we fell in love with Plano. At the end of a long day, there’s no better feeling than coming home to a place you love, a place you want to be, and a place that just makes you happy. And when we get right down to it, who doesn’t want to do everything possible to improve their home community? 

That’s why I’m running for City Council. There is so much to love about Plano, and I want to be on the ground, with my sleeves rolled up, helping to keep Plano beautiful and vibrant. I want to help our city be the best possible version of itself--a city in which all its citizens, from the elderly, to the young; the religious to non-religious; the immigrants and minorities--proudly call home.

Plano Block Walk