Testimonials
“I started coming to our salonette a couple of years ago mostly to see my friends. It was an excuse to have an easy night out with people I enjoy and respect. I have never been very interested in politics or current events overall, but over time, after attending these meetings, I developed a desire to learn about how things work, locally and nationally, to understand why people feel as they do, to really listen and take in new perspectives.
My participation has changed me. And in doing so, I feel like it has changed how I engage with my friends and family around me. I am no longer afraid to discuss "scary" topics that used to feel out of my league.
- Consuelo R.
“Before our salonette, I learned about what was happening in town through social media. As a result, I was basing my opinion on a few hot takes posted by people I didn’t really know, let alone trust.
Through my salonette, I have been able to speak directly with the people who make choices that impact me and my family — the town council, the board of education, the local paper, as well as my state and federal representatives. These conversations teach me about the complexities of the issues we face in our town and give me the conversational space I need to develop a viewpoint on how to address those issues.”
-Cate G.
“I spend so much time reading national news, but, before joining my salonette, I didn’t appreciate how much of my life is affected by local decisions — what to spend local taxes on, how much money to pay teachers, how to utilize tax breaks to incentivize businesses I want to see in town. And, more amazingly, I didn’t appreciate how much power I have to influence those decisions.”
- Jen L.