There are many ways of investing in our communities and they all start with listening. Telling a community what they need or what there is funding for will never be as good a match as listening to a community and giving voice to what you learn. That said, we as a county can do a better job at being present in state conversations about resource allocation, in federal conversations about long term options and sticking points. We need leadership that will not only listen to our communities but be that messenger and that champion.