Como Community Council taps neighborhood resident as Director

Newly-hired Executive Director 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 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. 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 that 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 foresees 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 there.

“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 is 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 explaining 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 for daily newspapers for 15 years and was the editor of a business trade magazine for five 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 served 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.