Study circle coordinator lends an ear to her community

Johnson hears a Who

by Carol Huffman

January 11, 2006 | Idaho Press-Tribune | Kuna, Idaho

Originally published on 12/21/2005

“A person’s a person no matter how small.”

Sound familiar? If it sounds like a phrase from “Horton Hears a Who,” you’re right. But in this case, Horton is Kuna’s Study Circles coordinator, Arnette Johnson.

For the past seven years Johnson has been listening to “Whomever” has a community concern. A job she takes seriously, she works countless hours to synthesize recommendations for change. It’s a job without pay – her “night” job, and Dr. Seuss’s book is her inspiration.

By day she is Kuna School District’s Title I Reading Coordinator, responsible for a district reading curriculum, working with specialists, teachers and parents. Add on to that wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, church choir director and a student enrolled in an Educational Leadership program, and you see what I mean.

Busy person? Perhaps. Dedicated community volunteer? Undoubtedly. “I believe in my community,” Johnson said. “I believe in the synergy of people and what they can accomplish when they combine their efforts and thinking together.”

“I know there’s a person down there. And, what’s more,

Quite likely there’s two. Even three. Even four.

Quite likely…a family – just starting to grow.”

Never before was her dedication needed as it was in 1998 when Kuna was a little like “Whoville,” the city found by Horton the elephant. Just beginning to grow, this small farming community was burgeoning as new families multiplied. With them came traffic, new schools to build and development of commercial and residential areas. How would Kuna maintain its small-town feel? Open, honest communication between public entities and the people they served was critical.

Enter Kuna’s Alliance for a Cohesive Community Team (ACT). The umbrella organization that sponsors the Study Circles program, it began with six people. After attending a presentation by the Pomfret, Conn.-based Study Circles Resource Center, the group learned that deliberative democracy – people meeting together and listening to each other through study circles – can make a difference in a community.

The group felt certain it would work in Kuna, but it would take a “local” to guarantee its success. Someone who grew up in Kuna, had attended its schools, who knew the people, and cared about its past and had ears for its future. Ears? That’s right.

Johnson believes in the power of listening. “I believe in public dialogue,” she said. “I believe in the community involved in decisions about its future.”

What is a Study Circle?

Just as Dr. Seuss’s book teaches, the premise for Study Circles is that while every person counts, the collective

voice gets heard. As Johnson states, “The solo voice doesn’t get much air. But if you’re part of an established process where you mingle your opinions with others, and widen your view by listening, you can make recommendations for a solution.”

Kuna’s established process operates similar to this:

• Community concern voiced.
• Coordinator organized public meeting.
• Small groups formed, given information packets, and dispersed to reflect on discussion questions.
• Groups led by an impartial facilitator who helps discussion flow. Recorders write answers down.
• Discussion begins with personal stories, looks at a problem from many points of view and generates possible solutions.
• Coordinator synthesizes recommendations and takes them to the agency most responsible for change.

“So call a big meeting. Get everyone out.

Make every Who holler! Make every Who shout!”

In the past seven years, Kuna’s Study Circles have discussed important issues such as creating a comprehensive plan for growth, education concerns, encouraging area business growth, and meeting critical infrastructure needs, such as new water and sewage lines. They haven’t always agreed.

According to Johnson, “While we don’t achieve total unity all the time, there still needs to be one place where you can have a forum, discuss problems and come up with recommendations.”

To that end, Kuna’s program has been a success. In 2003, the city received a “Brightest Stars” award from Governor Dirk Kempthorne “for exemplary service to the State of Idaho and for outstanding contributions to Idaho families and children.”

The same year, its success stories were shared at the Association of Cities conference, and Arnette Johnson has been chosen twice by the Study Circles Resource Center to speak at its annual national meeting.

“I can’t put it down. And I won’t! After all a person’s a person no matter how small.”

Kuna ACT is an organization filled by volunteer positions. Sometimes, Johnson has been the lone ranger in keeping the Study Circles program going. “I wasn’t able to let it go. It’s not that I’m important, but the process is.”

Just in case you’re wondering what to get your town for Christmas this year, try “Horton Hears a Who.” Better yet – introduce them to Arnette Johnson. She’s a little like Horton with the BIG ears – minus the trunk, of course. 

Learn more: Education  | Growth and Sprawl