We all have opinions about people and organizations that should be serving us – police, Mayor, Alderman, etc. Unfortunately, very few of those opinions actually reach those places because we tend to complain amongst ourselves and NEVER share it with those people. And when we do get our chance, we end up complaining without providing solutions.

To remedy this situation, I would like to suggest creating community report cards for each of those entities. Instead of complaining all the time, this is YOUR opportunity to do actually step up and do something. I will take the lead in creating the report cards, but you are responsible for using them. If you have a problem with someone or something, you will have the report card so you can have a tangible document to present when you have an issue.

Here are just a few of the reports cards I think need to be created.

• Mayor
• Alderman
• State representative
• Library
• Police department
• 911 operators
• 311 operators
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Community organizations
• And anyone else who is PAID to service you, especially those whose salaries you are paying with your tax dollars

Ok, I can’t do this alone. Your suggestions and input are needed. We can create one form at a time. What other report cards need to be created? What are some of the criteria that is common to all of these entities that should be graded? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Image: discoveryeducation

I’ll have some activities planned later on this year; feel free to provide suggestions on how I should celebrate. But, please join me in celebrating. Read the very first issue of Shorty In House now.

Happy New Year, Chi-Town! Hope you had a great and safe holiday. My blogging break was great, and I’m looking forward to a more fun and engaging 2012. I had time to reflect on ALL my ventures, and good things are on the way.

Although my focus is on the South Side, my experiences are not limited to my side of town. Therefore, more information will be shared about the entire city.

What to expect in 2012:

• Employment opportunities will be posted on Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource Facebook page
• More Chicago and Chicago Black History will be shared
• More live blogging
• Still collecting resources and stories about Funtown, the amusement park that was located on 95^th Street east of Stony Island
• More interviews with people doing good stuff in Chicago.
• There will be 3 – 4 posts per week as opposed to the daily posts
• More education Shorty style– blogging, social media, writing and community stuff
• And it would be especially great if readers would contribute stories and comments

Those are my plans for this year. What would you like to see on Shorty in 2012?

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As I bring my blogging  to an end for the year, I would like to thank you for your support. You are truly appreciated. I will not be responding to comments at this time, so don’t think  I am a  customer service failure when you do not hear from me.

Although I won’t be responding to comments during the month, consider the following for 2012:

• Things you would like see
• Become a contributor by submitting stories and resources
• How Shorty can be improved

While I am gone, I’ll be

• Planning Shorty’s 10th year anniversary
• Developing blogging, writing and social media workshops and trainings
• Creating trainings for the community
• Completing client projects

So, I’ll still be busy; I just won’t be blogging. Well, I’m going now. I wish you very happy and safe holiday, and I’ll see you next year.

Thanksgiving will never be the same for King Richard Daley and his family with the passing of his wife, Maggie Daley. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Ms. Daley died at 6 p.m. today at age 68, presumably from cancer.  I would like to extend heartfelt prayers to the Daley family.

Image: louanneskitchen

Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource

I’ll be reducing the time I blog in December as I have to plan and prepare for 2012. You can help by letting me know what you would like to see on Shorty. To date,  I have been sharing resources and very few thoughts. I am going to try to do more interviews with people doing good things in the community. There will be more live blogging.  Unless a dedicated person volunteers to share news,  or if one of the major stations hire me to do so, I doubt if Shorty will become a  news source.

But, what would be cool, though, is if Shorty could become a central location for all the news sources on the South Side. The biggest challenge with that is partnering and getting paid. Well, getting paid.

So, what would you like to see in 2012?

Your support for Shorty is truly appreciated. Have a happy and safe holiday!

Only a week and some change before December and I’m putting in a call for December events. I will be taking a hiatus during the month of December, so if there is anything else you want to post on Shorty, please submit them ASAP.

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Send your December events ASAP because I’ll be taking a break for the month of December and will post through the end of this month. You can send them to resources@goshorty.net. Put “Please post ASAP” in the subject line.