Whose Voice is it Anyway?

After our first class, I am left with more questions than answers as to what “community-based policy” really is. I hoped that I would gain some clarity after diving into the readings for our second week of class. Although I’m still unable to define the term, I am more aware of some of the deeply rooted challenges of developing policy at the community level.

The readings for week two emphasize the importance of listening, which got me thinking: listening does not necessarily translate to understanding. This is especially true when there are complex power dynamics that will inherently influence how people perceive a policy issue, thus impacting how they develop, implement and evaluate policy interventions.

This becomes increasingly complex when various stakeholders are involved. While it is important to listen to different perspectives from those who would be affected by policy interventions, how do we determine whose voice(s) matter the most?

When we’re looking at issues that affect the community at large, such as traffic congestion, we create opportunities for feedback from a broader audience. And yet, when we’re looking at matters that specifically affect a smaller community, particularly those who are marginalized, we still tend to listen to the voices of others.

While listening to other voices is important, it is difficult to balance these voices with those most affected by a policy, especially given that it is often difficult to reach the most vulnerable and marginalized members of a community. So how can we value truly value local knowledge, and how important is the knowledge and expertise of other stakeholders in shaping community-based policies?