W Krakow is about tradition and identity, at least that's what they took. And Krakow's fresh vice president is Kashubian, from Tricity. Maria Klaman has no family, network of friends or support from the organization that put forward her candidacy. She enrolled in the fresh Left almost on her way from Sopot to Krakow.
Local elections were held in April. It is November, and there is inactive a gathering of the Vice president with the Krakow activists of the fresh Left. The City Council of fresh Left has adopted a resolution for this, in which it declares that it does not support Maria Klaman. Why? It's about divisions inside the organization and disagreement with bringing politicians who have nothing in common with Krakow.
Before Maria Klaman, the “spadoprotector” dropped by national structures was Mr Maciej Gdula. He failed to buy into the environment and lacked support for another term. He was the 1 who proposed Klaman, erstwhile the recently elected president of Krakow Aleksander Miszalski asked for the name of the candidate – women, due to the fact that vice presidents – men had 3 already.
The fresh Left hesitated due to the fact that she was preparing the position of Ryszard Smiałek. And so they hesitated until Klaman's candidacy appeared, which president Miszalski rapidly accepted. It's done. The fact, a small above the heads of the Krakow Left, but nevertheless 5 left-wing councillors and vice presidents are a success, due to the fact that in conservative Krakow the left has not been so close to power for decades.
However, from the fresh Left activist in Krakow, I hear that Klaman can and is “nice” (it was not a compliment from him), but it is about politics. due to the fact that Maria Klaman fell into the mediate of a political boiler.
Boxing above his weight
A politician from a large centre organization erstwhile explained to her: “Yours and my colleagues, who have been in youth school since their childhood, carried folders to elder politicians, organized organization meetings and events, must be terribly jealous of you.” Klaman (yearbook 85) did not wear folders. She has worked in Sopot's local government for the last fewer years, she was the head of the Bureau for Local Cooperation and Repatriation. She collaborated with Jacek Karnowski, the long-time president of Sopot for the PO and president of the Local Government Movement Yes! for Poland, who is now a associate of the Sejm.
She was offered a cooperation offer at the Leader School. It is simply a forge of social and political staff founded by Zbigniew Pełczyński, a post-war emigrant and prof. of Oxford, who, erstwhile he saw that communism was coming to an end in Poland, decided to contribute to the construction of an open society.
The practice of this school is to make conditions for people with very different views to start talking to each other, getting along, seeking an agreement. At Klaman School of Leaders she conducted participatory activities, workshops from democracy, and developed programs of political and local leaders.
When I say that friends value her for the courage of “boxing above her weight”, she curves a little. However, he admits that the invitation to cooperate with Sopot president Jacek Karnowski was a challenge. This is more political work and Karnowski is not left-wing. But it was an chance that was hard to turn distant from individual who was always passionate about politics.
Karnowski is simply a conservative, Catholic, and Klaman says he besides has a social sensitivity and a strong sense of justice. He felt that LGBT people had the right to live as they wanted, even if it was not in line with his worldview. besides not necessarily typical of politics, he did not put it in his shadow. frequently a female assistant works in the back; she performs little grateful but essential tasks, and the fruit of her efforts captures politicians from the front line. Karnowski treated his assistants equally, promoted, preparing the next generation for the political banner.
Participation
In Krakow, Maria Klaman is liable for education, housing and social policy. This second category besides covers the participatory budget. She says she's dreaming of in-depth talks from the locals so that the neighbors can see each other's needs. He believes that a master's degree is to meet these needs as best as possible and to set priorities. Subvention to education is always besides small, but the road must besides be built.
It itself originates from non-governmental organizations, 15 years ago it founded a political criticism skylight in Gdańsk. At the time, in 2009, it was 1 of the first places in the city to open up to various groups and organizations. There was not yet a European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, so erstwhile individual wanted to “organise something”, he came to the hall of KP.
Klaman friends from philosophical studies brought to the dayroom, encouraging that this would be a place for debate. But to make a space for conversation, it took work. "The setting up of the Political Critic Center was that we would come to a place where we had to teardrop down the old carpet, bring chairs, do everything from scratch. Then the debates began, but besides the tables in Excel and the settlement of money. We learned everything” – says Agnieszka Wiśniewska, editor-in-chief of the diary of Political Critics.
Klaman is co-authored by the KP guide Participation. Her 2012 biography: “philologist, philosopher, editor, head coordinator of KP Light in Tricity. The promoter of participatory democracy". She described how Waryński Square in Gdańsk was created – how the thought came from the community that included municipal authorities, experts and institutions in consultation with residents. The consultations were not superficial, they lasted for days after a fewer hours, but they were profound and binding.
Maria Klaman. photograph by Piotr WojnarowskiIt was a time erstwhile crucial urban movements were created trying to think and act “apolitically” in NGOs. From the NGO perspective, it seemed that politicians and politicians were best avoided. The Political Critic thought differently, which already recognized that even the actions at the neighbourhood level are political besides – for example, they affect issues of equality, accessibility, exclusion and economical status. Above all, they are subject to the law-making policy, so politics cannot be avoided. We understood that – as Agnieszka Wiśniewska says – politics is not about "going into agreements" and losing independence, but about reaching for another tool to accomplish goals. Agnieszka calls this a transition from civilian society to political society.
This is Maria Klaman's experience. Therefore, while in self-government today, he tries to cooperate with NGOs. The results of the civilian budget want to announce in the atmosphere of Christmas to celebrate the efforts of the people involved. It argues that the civic budget is an influence tool for the residents, but besides a chance to build social ties.
Close
Friends in Political Critics inactive have friends today. She says herself that Critics gave her a tongue so she could call her who she is, where she came from. She gave books that helped her systematize values.
Where did she come from? A multi-children's family. She says that erstwhile she went to a workshop in Germany, everyone introduced themselves there, mentioning what kind of household they came from, what kind of social class. In Poland, this is almost unusual, due to the fact that in our country everyone seems to be mediate class. And life experience is important. Klaman's parents had 9 children and a farm. As in the family, everyone has an opinion, so the first school of respect for different attitudes and compromises took distant from home.
Klaman sits close, calm, direct. She knows she needs distance in her function as vice president sometimes, but first she's Maria Klaman, then a clerk. It's not a prestige of power, it works its own way. She heard that in politics "you gotta wear pants" and "make male decisions", but that changes. Women bring not only competence but management kind to the centres. Klaman says there wouldn't be all of this if it wasn't for the debate, the Maniphus, Kazimier Szczuk, King Dunin, writing and talking about feminism.
Progress is erstwhile the old meets fresh ones. Therefore, co-president of Agnieszka Muras' School of Leadership sees a chance for Krakow in that Klaman appeared there. And the circumstances are favorable, after long years of power of president Majchrowski a fresh 1 came in – Aleksander Miszalski.
It is known that this is simply a challenge for Klaman. Education and housing is simply a hard episode, but as always, the top challenge is people. Muras is convinced that if Krakow's fresh vice president has adequate strength, determination and authenticity within herself, she will be able to build broad alliances for matters crucial to the city's residents, even if she can face the first distrust.
It is crucial not to effort to fix or modify everything at once. The measurement of success is to set a clear and real goal that is possible during the word of office. Taking over leadership after the erstwhile one, who held power for twenty-two years, is so worth preparing for this word measurable, attainable goals that are part of a larger plan.
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Article financed by the Network Reset!, supporting independent cultural and media organisations in Europe.
