What would it take to make you feel secure? Are those security needs being met by this administration’s national and foreign policies? Would it take a safe neighborhood? Food inspection, so that what we eat is safe? Financial security? The protection of our rights? These were some of the answers we have received from people who have participated in the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) Mobilization for Peace and Security listening project.

For the next two months pairs of trained listeners will be out in communities in and around Pittsburgh, asking their families, neighbors, friends, colleagues, fellow students and people they meet, a series of 12 questions starting with, "What does security mean to you." These listeners are an impressive group of volunteers. Many have experience in conflict resolution and community organizing and are giving their time to just listen to others. It is so seldom in our society that we are offered the luxury of being listened to for an hour, and especially not about our fears and concerns for our security.

For many it is a clarifying experience. While some people have thought through their concerns, many have not. For them it is a chance to step back and reflect and gain a better understanding of their own positions.

Promoting this sort of thoughtful understanding and helping communities articulate their needs are the goals of this listening project. Usually such projects are used in community settings around a single issue such as welfare reform, toxic waste, etc. However, the AFSC is more ambitious. With support from the Ford Foundation, who has financed this project, it is listening to people not only in this country but in war torn parts of the world as well. They believe that the voices of the people are not being heard, and it is time they were.

It is challenging and exciting that Western Pennsylvania was chosen as one of the areas to be listened to. We have a unique opportunity to get our needs and issues about security heard nationally. In the second phase of the project of these common needs and issues will be publicized throughout the country, and used in our community to raise awareness.

So what are your security needs? Are they being met? Does the present use of our tax dollars help you feel safe? What can you do? Come join us in making our voices heard by being trained as a listener or being listened to. You too can have a voice.

- Scilla Wahrhaftig, Program Coordinator