- Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail

A little less than four years ago, our community marched against the ideas of hatred and purposeful ignorance spouted from the highest office in this country. We objected, but it continued and now we are raw. All of our myths have been stripped away, and we are left with the harsh and beautiful truths of the communities we live in. Fires are burning throughout the west. The south is experiencing an unprecedented hurricane season and floods have ravaged cities and towns. Climate change will no longer wait to be addressed. I added yet another name, Walter Wallace Jr., to our BLM window this week. Breonna Taylor's killers will not be charged. Our schools teach a whitewashed history devoid of the truths this country has yet to come to terms with in order to move forward.

If you haven't already, vote. Walk your mail-in ballot to an official drop box or visit a polling place as safely as you can. No matter who wins the presidency, we have so much work to do. I still believe in the community around me. I believe in your ability to read, research, argue, discuss, agree, and disagree, but not give up. We need you at the School Board and City Council meetings, to sit on committees that can affect change — because we need change. I am fighting for Zephyr, for Lucia, for Evie, for Luna, for Mia, for Rivers, for Blake. We cannot give them the world as it is now; we owe them more. Thank you for all the work you have already done and all we will do going forward.

- Linda