Community Conversation— With Monica Downen
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This is the fourth in a series of posts in which leaders of Silverdale/Central Kitsap have an opportunity to answer some questions about the area and their thoughts about building a sense of community here. You can read the posts in this series by clicking on the “community conversation” link in the list of tags displayed in the right-hand column on this page.
Monica Downen and her husband Mark “are Washington grown, and we have lived in Kitsap County for 11 years.” They live in Olalla and own Monica’s Waterfront Bakery & Cafe in Silverdale, which they purchased nearly three years ago. “We are having the time of our lives. We both work in the business and I work ‘on’ the business as well.” Mark worked 16 years as an automotive mechanic for 16 years and Monica was a police dispatcher/911 operator for the King County Sheriff’s Office before they purchased the bakery.
Q: How do you see your role as it relates to the Silverdale/CK community?
A: Our role is to bring the community together and nourish it’s soul. We love being a gathering place and we are trying to feed into that goal in many ways. We offer our walls at no cost to local artists and authors to show their works, we are very involved in charitable giving, and we provide a wonderful space for individuals, couples and groups to meet, work, celebrate, and of course to eat!
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Silverdale/CK?
A: My favorite thing about the immediate area is the natural beauty. I love the water, the mountains, the wildlife, and all of the nature that abounds here.
Q: If you were “mayor” of Silverdale, what’s the first new policy you would implement?
A: Wow I get to be the mayor! I am so honored, thank you! I am not really a policy kind of gal, I place more value on education and incentives than I do on rules and regulations. The first thing I would like to do is to emulate a group in Bellingham called ‘Sustainable Connections’, and unite the community at large in building up our local economy by ‘valuing local first’, with a strong focus on sustainability. I would start by reaching out to independent, locally owned businesses, to join together as a member driven group, so that we can all provide support and education to one another, and the community at large. Our main goal will be to help our members become THE most successful businesses in our area, as a direct result of our values. We would be open, adaptable and flexible to the needs of our consumer community. We would provide education (assistance, including technical assistance), connections (guidance, including mentorships and peer support), and market development (resources including promotions, public education, growth) for every type of business in our community, as well as individuals and the general community. We would want to provide these things based on the building blocks of Strong Community; Healthy Environment; Meaningful Employment; and Thinking Local First. I firmly believe that we do not need to compete with one another; rather we need to support each other, have fun, and profit. Eventually all businesses and individuals would be able to be members at different tiers and certainly public education is a major key in getting off the ground.
Q: What place do you consider the public gathering place of Silverdale, and what do you think that says about us?
A: Rather than one central location, I think there are several places for gathering in Silverdale/CK. From farms and farmer’s markets, neighborhood community centers and churches, to art walks, enrichment classes, Waterfront Park, local hotels and restaurants, and even the mall. Some are charming and neighborly, and some are not so much. What this says to me is that we have varied interests and we like to try different things. It also says that the sprawl is more widespread than I would like it to be, and that makes it even more important to provide a friendly place for people to work and play while they meet. I think that the pendulum is swinging back towards ‘main street USA’ and we are placing stronger value on community than we have in a long time. We are ripe for heart-centered experiences that feed all our senses.
Q: What things do you think stand in the way of building a better sense of community in Silverdale/CK, and what would you do about them if you could?
A: Urban sprawl and mall mentality are definitely standing in our way, as well as lack of knowledge. Many of us are feeling this tug to find communion with our neighbors, but we aren’t sure where to start or even what questions to ask. Our grandparents and prior generations lived like this, yet we don’t realize that this urge is very natural because we have gotten used to immediate gratification, one-stop-shopping, and fast food convenience all at broadband speeds. The one ingredient that all those things are lacking is substance. Our culture has chosen quantity over quality and convenience over experience, and we are beginning to enjoy those choices less. We want better for ourselves and our families, and even in a more rural community such as ours we can find ways to come together and meet our diverse needs.
The other major obstacle that comes to mind is time, or the perception of not having enough. The ‘up’ side of a recession and even a depression is that it will make us slow down a little and appreciate the simpler side of life more often. We will want and need to come together to make those deeper connections. It has already started and when we choose to spend our time and money at a place we require it to be of high quality. We want to feel valued.
What I would love to do about these obstacles is to offer our place as a community hub. A place where people can stop in for a moment or for an afternoon, and feel nourished, valued, and connected to this great community.
Thanks to Monica for sharing her ideas, especially the one on creating sustainable connections, and for being willing to accept the e-mail interview challenge.
I am working from a growing list of people who I hope to interview for the blog to discuss building a sense of community in Silverdale and Central Kitsap. If there’s someone you think should be interviewed for the blog, please send your suggestion to me at seekingsilverdale@gmail.com.
— Jeff
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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