Athmar Park

We Made a Difference - So Can You

May 20, 2004

by Jill Honnecke

On a Tuesday in March ?– Tuesday because of the Caesar Chavez holiday the day before ?– I drove down to the Civic Center at 5pm to sit with my friends and neighbors at the weekly meeting of Denver City Council. That night there were about nine of us from APNA all sitting quietly together in the 2nd row.

We were there, all wearing bright orange stickers with various messages supporting the redevelopment of Alameda Square. It?’s funny, we did not speak at the microphone, we did nothing discourteous ?– but we did make a difference. You could feel it. Rosemary Rodriguez announced our presence for the record ?– but we were noticed just by being there. We were obvious. There were almost no other people present - other than the Councilpeople themselves, a few City officials, and the TV crew. We were about it. And; although at the moment the Wal-Mart deal is off the table, our simple persistence will make a difference in, and for, our neighborhood. I am going to keep calling and sending letters to the City when things are not right. I am going to keep on just showing up ?– when I can ?– because it does work. We do have the power to make an impact and make a difference. It was a wonderful experience.