Opinion: Showing up for Kids Means Showing Up for the Community
If you are a parent, you know the importance of building a solid foundation. From celebrating milestones to attending sporting events and teaching those important life lessons, we do these small, often repetitive efforts every day. They help shape who our children become.
What we often overlook is that the foundation we build at home is dependent on the community around us. That community is shaped not just by educators, businesses, and housing developments, but by the people elected to serve on school boards, county commissions, town councils, and even as Precinct Chairs.
As a parent, our first instinct is to do everything we can to protect our children. However, that includes more than holding their hand across the street or choosing the right car seat. It’s about ensuring schools are well-funded, resources are accessible, and our community feels welcoming so everyone can thrive. Local democracy is where your voice can be heard the loudest, your vote can make a significant impact, and where simply showing up can make a difference.
We envision a community that is rooted in fairness, compassion, and opportunity. This isn’t something that has to remain a grandiose idea - the choices we make at the county and town level can make that a reality.
Our community will soon face decisions that could have lasting repercussions for decades to come. How can we support families struggling with the cost of childcare? How do we attract and retain teachers? How do we ensure our community is safe, clean, and welcoming? None of these questions can be answered without showing up.
So what does that look like? Vote in your local election. Attend a school board meeting. Discuss with your neighbors, friends, and other parents what is important to them. Those small acts of care will build on the foundation we make at home.
As parents, we learn patience. We know how to be hopeful, even when things seem heavy. We imagine a future we may not see for ourselves. Local democracy asks of us the same.
Let’s show up for our children, so they live in a community we’re all proud of. Our children are watching. Let’s start making the choices today that shape their tomorrow.
