Michael Kuchta is
excited to tap into energy in a neighborhood where people care
by Tesha M. Christensen
Fifteen-year Como resident Michael Kuchta stepped into the
role of District 10 Como Community Council Executive Director in on Oct. 5,
2015.
After a month long application period, the District 10 Executive
Committee examined each application submitted and conducted interviews. “We
were immediately impressed by the experience and qualifications of Michael
Kuchta,” stated Council Chair Ryan Flynn. “Michael has experience with multiple
nonprofit organizations in various roles. He brings a deep understanding of
community based organizing, communications, and project management.
“He has worked extensively with volunteers and community
members to accomplish organizational goals, and we are thrilled to have him as
a part of District 10.”
A GREAT FOUNDATION TO
START WITH
Kuchta grew up in Chicago, but moved to the Twin Cities area
16 years ago because it is where his wife, Katie, is from. The couple is on
their second house in the neighborhood, slowly doing all the things you need to
do to update an almost 70-year-old house.
“It’s a great location, it’s safe, it’s friendly, it’s
human-scale,” observed Kuchta.
As they walk their dog, the Kuchtas have realized how often
people are out in the neighborhood.
“You get to meet people, know people, see people taking care
of their gardens, see kids playing, see people working on their houses,” he
pointed out.
“People care about this neighborhood. They have expectations
about the quality of life you can have here,” said Kuchta. “And that’s a great
foundation to start with if you’re a district council. I think there’s an
energy here that we can be part of.”
Although he’s lived in the neighborhood for 15 years, Kuchta
acknowledges that there is much he has yet to learn about Como.
HE OWES IT ALL TO HIS
BICYCLE
Bicycling got Kuchta involved in community action projects.
He is an avid cyclist who bikes a lot in the summer, commutes
to work when he can, and even rides in the winter as long as the roads are
clear.
“I was pretty active as St. Paul developed its new city
bicycle plan, and I really hope we can build that out, because I think it’s a
great way to connect neighborhoods and make neighborhoods much more
people-centered,” stated Kuchta.
He serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the St. Paul
Grand Round project.
“I really want to see the Grand Round develop, so we can have
safe, efficient bike paths, and pedestrian paths, and bike lanes for people of
all abilities,” he noted. “The Grand Round runs right through our neighborhood
along Wheelock, through Como Park, then along Como Ave. past the Fairgrounds.
So that could be a huge asset to the neighborhood if we can get it done.”
CONSTRUCTIVE NOT
OBSTRUCTIONIST
Kuchta forsees two sets of challenges for the District 10
Community Council.
The first is at the city level, managing the ongoing budget
problems the city of St. Paul always faces. Kuchta pointed out that the city’s
finances impact city services and property taxes, which impact the quality of
life in the city and its neighborhoods, and who wants to live in Como or who
can afford to live here.
“That also limits the ability of the city and neighborhood
groups and institutions and businesses to do things – sometimes relatively
minor things that can make a big difference,” said Kuchta.
The second challenge is how the neighborhood reacts to
change.
“Things are pretty decent in Como, so there’s a tendency to
be skeptical of change,” remarked Kuchta. “But I think there’s a big difference
if you perceive change happening to you, or if you are part of making change
happen.”
“That’s where I think a strong district council and good community
organizing can make a difference.”
Kuchta seeks ways to be constructive, not obstructionist --
finding common goals and solutions rather than merely riling people up.
As an overwhelmingly residential neighborhood, the area is
always balancing the positive and negative effects of the two huge institutions
(the fairgrounds and Como Park) located within its borders.
“Keeping that balance takes a lot of energy and effort,”
Kuchta observed.
Because of its layout, Como doesn’t have a neighborhood
business district like others do, such as St. Anthony. Instead, businesses in
Como tend to be on the edges of the neighborhood, or scattered in various
places.
“Even though we have a nice neighborhood where it’s
relatively easy to walk or bike, we don’t have that central gathering spot or
spots that can unify a neighborhood or add a level of cohesion to a
neighborhood,” said Kuchta.
“Are there ways to create that – and what role can the
district council play?”
LISTENING AND EXPLAIN
COMPLEX ISSUES
Kuchta believes he was selected as the Como Community Council
Executive Director because the job requires communication skills,
administrative skills, and community organizing skills -- and he’s got all
three.
Kuchta earned his bachelor of arts in journalism from
Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Ill. He worked
in daily newspapers for 15 years, and was the editor of a business trade
magazine for 5 years. Most recently, he has done communications work for labor
unions in St. Paul, producing the twice-monthly St. Paul Union Advocate.
In addition to honing the typical journalism and
administrative skills, Kuchta also fine-tuned the ability to listen.
This translates into the skill of being able to understand
complex issues and then explain those issues in a way that people who are not
experts can understand.
“Plus I’m pretty good at connecting dots, and seeing where
there might be common ground that isn’t always obvious,” remarked Kuchta.
Kuchta earned his master’s degree in Advocacy and Political
Leadership from the University of Minnesota - Duluth, and now teaches in the
graduate-level program at Metropolitan State University.
His labor union background has taught him the ability to
organize and connect people, while advocating for better outcomes.
Kuchta has spent more than a decade serving on various
boards, including Our Savior’s Community Services which provides emergency
shelter and advanced housing services for more than 125 homeless adults, plus
adult education and citizenship classes for 400 immigrants.
He co-founded the Twin Cities Labor Chorus in 2009 and serves
as its treasurer.
In the winter, when he’s not biking, he’s skating,
cross-country skiing, and listening to a lot of hockey games.
This story appeared in the October 2015 St. Paul Monitor.
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