![Picture of Lis. Lis has a blonde bob haircut and is wearing glasses. She is smiling widely..](/images/Picture_of_Lis.jpg")
Meet Lis
Lis lives in the north of the city and is a lived experience participant.
Lis said:
"I'm a mom of three and a grandmother of three. Both my husband and I are disabled, so we face many challenges. I got involved with the Poverty Truth Commission about nine years ago. The Commission was all about sharing our stories and experiences. We had a group of public participants, and we went on a journey together, vocalizing how our lives were affected by poverty. We focused on five main areas: mental health, communities, children and families, children in education, and housing. The power in those rooms was phenomenal because everything was based on true stories and real-life experiences".
How Lis thinks the council can support public participation and help empower communities鈥�:
"I would encourage the new Managing Director to continue the in-person and online meetings across different wards, as transparency is crucial. The public needs to know that the Council is working in their best interests. Despite the financial challenges, there are opportunities for change if we look for them. It's about empowering people and making sure their voices are heard. The council needs to change their language and approach. They use professional, corporate language that doesn't resonate with ordinary people. They need to talk to us in layman's terms. Simplifying the language and process would make a huge difference".
Page last updated: 5 March 2025