Fisto Ndayishimiye lives in Concord.
As a resident of Concord, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed investment of $10.3 million in building a clubhouse. As someone who has been closely following this project, I have doubts about whether this clubhouse will truly serve as a community center.
It is necessary for us, as a community, to understand the needs of our residents and ensure that any investment aligns with the principles of inclusivity, diversity, community development, and accessibility.
For a long time, residents have raised concerns about the lack of accessibility and sufficient space at the current Citywide Community Center. However, it is important to question whether a clubhouse is the most effective and equitable solution to address these issues. From my understanding, it is not.
Allocating $10.3 million of taxpayers’ money towards a clubhouse that does not meet the criteria to become a community center and will not be accessible to all residents raises doubts about whether our city government truly understands the needs of our community and the fairness and inclusivity of this investment.
As a community, we must actively engage in the decision-making process to ensure that our city council prioritizes the entire community, listens to our needs, and works together to provide accessible resources for all.
True leadership is not about personal development or individual gain, but about promoting unity and creating a future that benefits all members of the community, regardless of their background, beliefs, or social class.
The current clubhouse is not even 60 years old, which raises questions about its management. However, it is important to acknowledge that this clubhouse was never built to serve the entire community and it is still not clear whether it will ever fulfill that purpose. If our goal is to create a space that benefits the community, why not prioritize the current Citywide Community Center and ensure that it is accessible and free for all residents to use?
We should consider expanding and improving this center, providing resources such as culture and language education, training resources, meeting spaces, places of worship, student areas, computer labs, and other services that serve the diverse needs of our community.
Instead of investing money in a project that may not serve the entire community and does not meet the criteria of a community center, let us invest in creating a true community center that brings people together to learn, work, and contribute their knowledge and resources towards building our communities. We need better and more than what we have.
I urge the community to attend the meeting on Monday, Dec. 11, to voice their opposition to allocating funds towards the clubhouse. Together, we can redirect this money towards building a space that truly benefits us all.
In conclusion, it is necessary for us as a community to examine the proposed investment of $10.3 million in building a clubhouse and consider whether it aligns with the idea of inclusivity and community development. Let us prioritize all residents and invest in things that our community needs. By doing so, we can create a future that benefits everyone and promotes a sense of unity and belonging within our community.