Freeman Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor: Amelia Oliver is ready to listen at city hall in Webster City. The second part of her job is to help with communications for the Webster City Community Schools.

The newest employee at the city hall in Webster City is a face you might recognize from other venues.

Amelia Oliver has taken on the position as Communications Director for both the City of Webster City and the Webster City Community School District, a shared position designed to help streamline communications around the community.

Oliver has her degree in Communication Studies and Theater arts from the University of Iowa. She has worked in big tech and for a lot of start up organizations. She is a professional stunt double and worked in films and television shows when living in Austin, Texas.

But Webster City is home.

A graduate of the Webster City Community Schools, she returned to Webster City about a year ago. Her plan was to take a break, step back and shift directions.

“I’m not going to do anything,” she remembered thinking back.

Three community theatre plays later, the vocalist for the Day Okay Jazz Project, a part-time job at the Webster City Chamber of Commerce, and a place at the First Impressions Committee and involved in Arts R Alive, she has now planted herself firmly into a full-time job, straddling two organizations.

“I’m trying to make myself a hub,” she laughed. “I would like everyone to be informed about everything, even if not connected to it.”

Oliver, who was involved with theater when in high school, didn’t really expect to come back to Webster City and stay.

“You have your own biases about the town you grew up in,” she said. “After living in Austin, I realized I wasn’t a city person. It’s such a boon living here; I can do anything I want here.”

Oliver said having the perspective of a big city has opened her eyes to the opportunities that are here. And she is truly excited.

“This is my first real experience as an adult,” she explained about living here now. “I can actually go to the city manager and talk to any of my city representatives.”

That wasn’t something she could do in Austin. The smaller communities like Webster City make it possible to talk with the people who can make things happen.

“I see so much passion about this city,” she continued. “When everyone is working together, things happen. It’s about having a channel open.”

Amelia hopes to be that channel.

“Ideally we have the ability to point problems to people who have the spark.” she continued.

She hopes she will be able to connect people with ideas.

“I want to be the person you come to with ‘I have an idea, and I don’t know where to start,’ I want to be able to point them in the right direction.”

Projects and events that were happening when she was growing up have disappeared, she said.

“There were so many cool things that have gone away because the people planning them disappeared,” she said.

She hopes that she can create a succession plan for the projects and events that are here today, and for future events. The activities that disappeared didn’t have someone helping who could keep them going, after they were too old, too tired or moved away.

“I think my job comes with a lot of therapy,” she continued “90% of my job is listening.”

But that is what she wants.

“I’m interested in what anyone has to say,” Oliver said. She will get the information where it needs to be heard. But she encourages people to go the city council meetings, attend the school board meetings and speak out what they are thinking.

“A lot of people think their voice doesn’t matter,” she said. “You have to be able to convey information in the way people want to communicate.”

That is what she knows how to do. And she is ready to listen.

“Come to me!” she insists.