The first time I was interviewed by The Monroe Times, just weeks into the job in January 2015, I said I was already drawing inspiration from a father and daughter volunteer duo. There might have been part of me that wanted a “good” quote and thought it was good fodder. Ten years later, it’s just about the only thing I remember from that interview. It was quite possibly one of the things that made me best understand Main Street Monroe and our community, even subconsciously.
This year is special as 2025 is our 20th anniversary. Like other Main Street programs across the country, we have proven the power of good people working together to do good things. It is truly what makes things happen. To become a Main Street community, leaders had to guarantee funding for at least the first three years. That guaranteed our existence until the end of 2007, but many wanted Main Street Monroe’s efforts to continue. A big part of that was from the support of many different generations who sustained this work all the way until today.
It’s not that I thought parents and children don’t do things together, but there was and still is something special about parents and children donating their time for the same reasons. How special is it that their community provided them enough that they each had their motivations for getting involved? Formative experiences created advocates in different generations championing their communities.
It is easier to take for granted in larger cities, but how often do people just default into thinking that great places just sort of happen? It takes dedication, a vision, and a fresh perspective. Main Street offers a framework for all of that, which is why I believe it not only has continued but grown over these past 20 years. Additionally, they also discovered a welcoming environment that celebrated each person whether young or older. Contribution can go a long way.
My mom took me to meet with local developers who had responded to my letter about how they could improve Green Bay’s increasingly derelict downtown mall after they purchased it. It was quite exciting at the time, but in retrospect it seems like one of the biggest moments of my life. I fell in love with the idea of working to positively impact my community and cultivate connections. And the fact I just had to express my thoughts to get a response and feel like I was having an impact was beyond encouraging.
Life takes us in many directions. Two of the members of our “Summer Theme” committee are pregnant. It’s too soon to know how involved their children will be in whatever their community is. As I think of all of that, how wonderful is it that these volunteers, who oftentimes bring their spouses to meetings, have decided to stay in Monroe and not only live, but grow and thrive?
It is almost impossible to get people to stay if they don’t know they can build meaningful lives and careers in their communities and have opportunities to be creative and get involved.
I oftentimes feel that our volunteers reflect the interests of the community, but their efforts really echo the support of the community. I am proud to have stayed the course in Monroe these past 10 years and that there has been an amazing group getting us from 2005 to now. Staying committed to a vibrant downtown, the journey begins now with an eye on the next generations.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net. Complete details on Main Street Monroe and its efforts can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.
