Mesa City Councilman and neighborhood activist Ryan Winkle engaged with students and community members at GateWay Community College Feb. 16 as part of the FRANK Talks series put on by Arizona Humanities and the Arizona State Library
FRANK Talks are interactive conversations about various issues that encourage audiences to examine different points of view and engage with one another.
Thursday’s FRANK Talk focused on civic participation and how staying involved in the community can facilitate change on important issues.
Winkle, who attended Mesa Community College and Arizona State University, discussed different ways people can engage with their elected officials and start movements. He recommended getting involved at the local level, whether it be setting up a meeting with a city councilperson or joining a cultural group.
“Sharing stories is the best way you can educate someone,” he said.
Winkle also asked the audience to share their personal stories about civic participation. Students and faculty touched on a wide variety subjects, from being involved with Native American groups to experiencing prejudice as a Muslim.
Paulina Cuevas, a political science student at GateWay, said the event helped her learn about fellow students and also the steps she should take to become more involved.
“I got to see some of the people that I see every day in the hallways share their stories about how they have helped out the community,” she said.
Winkle said this event is particularly important because they are put on by libraries, which are seen as gathering places for communities. These talks help bring people together and create understanding across various groups.
“The more humanizing that we are with each other, the more we stop wanting bad things to happen to each other,” he said.
The event, which was held on the second floor patio of the IE building, brought together more than 100 GateWay students, faculty, staff and even community members and was hosted by the GateWay library.