Reflections on community, civic engagement, and the balancing acts we don’t always see
Dear Saint John,
Working at the Human Development Council has given me a deeper appreciation for both civic engagement and the difficult balancing act elected officials face.
To everyone who ran in this election: thank you.
To everyone who voted: thank you.
And to those who were elected: congratulations.
But to the people we were not able to engage, I’ve been thinking about you and your balancing act too.
I’ve been thinking about people facing transportation barriers, juggling caregiving responsibilities, working multiple jobs, or simply trying to get through the week — or even the day. I’ve also been thinking about those who feel disconnected from politics, or who believe their voice will not change anything.
Municipal engagement matters. So do the realities people are living with.
Civic engagement is often discussed as a simple act of participation, but in reality it exists alongside work schedules, caregiving, cost pressures, and competing priorities that shape people’s daily decisions.
These barriers are not always visible, but they are real, and they shape who gets heard and who does not.
At HDC, we work every day with community members, community leaders, organizations, and governments to help strengthen communities across New Brunswick. That work includes advocacy, research, collaboration, and listening. A lot of listening. Our work is grounded in understanding local needs and working alongside others to respond to them.
Because strong communities are not built only during elections. They are built in food banks and shelters, community centres, workplaces, schools, neighbourhood conversations, and the small moments where people choose to care about one another.
There is still work to do. But there are also many people doing that work.
Still hopeful,
Andrea
