Jennifer Gaughran: Running the Strong Towns Toastmasters Group
Dec 14, 2023
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Jennifer Gaughran, a marketing professional, and organizer of the Strong Towns Toastmasters group in San Diego, talks about living in a walkable neighborhood, transitioning from car commuting to biking, the importance of mixed neighborhoods, navigating a dangerous parking lot, transitioning Toastmasters clubs online during the pandemic, and being present and involved in the community.
Advocating for walkable communities is essential for creating diverse neighborhoods with mixed housing options and architectural styles.
Joining organizations like Toastmasters can help individuals gain confidence in public speaking by providing a safe space to practice and improve their communication skills.
Deep dives
Building Strong Towns principles into action through small and courageous steps
The podcast episode features Jennifer Gogren, a resident of San Diego, as she shares her experiences of putting Strong Towns principles into action. Jennifer runs the Strong Towns Toastmasters group, where individuals interested in cities and public speaking gather online to refine their skills while discussing urban issues. She emphasizes that anyone can make a difference in their community with small and courageous steps that align with their strengths. Jennifer highlights the importance of prioritizing walkability and the benefits it brings to neighborhoods. She also advises introverts to start small, follow their passions, and be kind to themselves while advocating for change. Jennifer concludes by stressing the value of good communication skills and the ability to listen and empathize with others. She encourages individuals to be willing to fail, learn from their mistakes, and keep trying to make progress.
Discovering the charm of Ocean Beach in San Diego
Jennifer reflects on her upbringing in Ocean Beach, San Diego, a self-contained town known for its hippie culture. She highlights the convenience and walkability of the neighborhood, where she could easily access the beach, restaurants, and other amenities on foot. Jennifer compares her experience in Ocean Beach to other areas that lack walkability and emphasizes the value of having diverse neighborhoods with mixed housing options and architectural styles. She shares her decision to prioritize walkability over a large living space and the realization that not all communities are designed to facilitate walking and community interaction. Jennifer's appreciation for diverse neighborhoods and enjoyable walks fuels her passion for advocating for walkable communities.
The transformative power of Toastmasters in building public speaking skills
Jennifer discusses her involvement with Toastmasters and the impact it has had on her public speaking journey. She explains that Toastmasters is an international organization that provides a safe environment for individuals to practice public speaking and leadership skills. Jennifer shares her personal fear of public speaking and how joining Toastmasters helped her gain confidence and improve her speaking abilities. She highlights the value of consistency and practicing regularly to gradually enhance communication skills. Jennifer also emphasizes the importance of adapting communication approaches for different audiences and situations. She encourages individuals to recognize that communication is a journey and to be kind to themselves while striving for improvement.
Tips for advocating for change and refining communication skills
Jennifer offers advice for those who want to advocate for change in their communities. She emphasizes the importance of active listening and empathizing with others to effectively communicate ideas and connect with different audiences. Jennifer encourages individuals to start small, follow their passions, and use their strengths to contribute to local efforts. She emphasizes the need to be kind to oneself and take breaks when feeling burned out. Jennifer acknowledges that communicating effectively and advocating for change can be a challenging and ongoing process, but encourages individuals to keep trying and not to be afraid of failure. She emphasizes that every attempt to communicate and engage in the conversation about community development is a step forward.
On this episode, host Tiffany Owens Reed chats with Jennifer Gaughran. Gaughran is a resident of San Diego, California, and outside of her full-time job in marketing, she runs the Strong Towns Toastmasters group, where folks interested in cities and public speaking gather every week online to refine their speaking skills, while talking about various urban issues and Strong Towns concepts.
