Looking Forward

Hi Everyone,

Back in March, the prevailing thought was we'd shut down for a couple of months, maybe through the end of the school year, but by summer we'd be back to normal.

Now it's the last day of July and normal is no longer within reach.

This begs the question -- if we can't look to the past for familiar signposts, what do we look to for the future? We're not just dealing with the fallout from the pandemic, but the immense challenges in coming to terms with our racist legacy, both nationally and locally.

To put it differently, what do we lean on as we navigate the future?  Yes, there will be a vaccine at some point, and we will get to the other side of Covid.  But what do we do in the meantime?

We lost a giant recently in the passing of John Lewis. We could do worse than to look to his words for guidance:

Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.

We continue to look out for each other. The District 13 Alliance was set up for this purpose. On July 26, the Alliance held an "essentials drive," donating much needed items for our neighbors at the Romnes Apts in Bay Creek.

District 13 residents have shown a similar spirit by joining the D13 Mask Brigade, sewing face coverings for those in need. We will need more as the pandemic continues. If you'd like to help, please let me know by emailing me at district13@cityofmadison.com.

Stay safe and have a nice weekend.

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