Listening session scheduled for Jan. 29

The Oberlin City Manager Rob Hillard will hold another of his quarterly listening sessions on Jan. 29.

Hillard said this session’s topic will focus on social equity and a big part of the session on figuring out what that means to the community.

“It depends on the individual,” he said. “But it’s basically raising the awareness of individuals and the opportunities that they have, or don’t have, as they move through life.”

This will mark Hillard’s third listening session. The previous two focused on neighborhood outreach and environmental sustainability.

A fourth session will take place in April and will focus on community development.

“City Council identified five subjects that we’re working on specifically,” Hillard said. “We also include city services as a key component.”

Hillard said he’s learned a variety of things about the community during these sessions, including information about city services and how the community reacts to varied topics. “We try to listen and understand and assist city organizations, readdress how we approach these subjects in our day-to-day service,” he said.

The listening sessions have averaged about 50 people, Hillard said.

The city also encourages local organizations to reserve tables at the sessions to promote their services and take part in the discussion.

While the event still is a few days away, Hillard said the Human Relations Commission and Oberlin youngsters already have reserved tables.

The listening session is

Hillard said this session’s topic will focus on social equity and a big part of the session on figuring out what that means to the community.

free to the public and will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Mount Zion Fellowship Center, 81 Locust St. in Oberlin.

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Oberlin Police Chief Ryan Warfield (left) and Oberlin Fire Chief Robert Hanmer talk to a resident at a listening session on Aug. 16 hosted by Oberlin City Manager Rob Hillard at Mount Zion Fellowship Center.