As an active member of the Colorado Springs community I am enraged.
Graduating from Harrison School District 2 is probably the most significantly positive foundation my life could have stood on. Maybe I didn’t read all of the classic novels, or learn advanced calculus (the District was in a deep time of transition and let’s be honest I wasn’t exactly prepared for college), but growing up around so much diversity in a community of kids proud to support each other left a mark on my soul. My experience growing up showed me it’s not so much about what you have and acquire, but about the positive difference we can make on each other. All tides rise together.
Recently, I’ve watched the world burning around me and I’ve felt overwhelmingly helpless to stop it. I’ve doubly felt more and more annoyed at myself for sitting on my couch with so much compassion and grief, without having an actionable way to do anything about it.
And then City Council members reprimanded Councilwoman Kimberly Gold for calm and commonsense comments she made in observance of Martin Luther King Day and I’d had enough. The only thing I could think to do was show up to City Council to give public comment about my horror and disappointment in some of our city leaders. The world is burning around us, but I care too much about our community to watch it happen here at home.
I ran to City Hall for a total of about five minutes between work obligations and made my voice heard. My single voice is so small, and the impact is highly questionable, but what a relief to have voiced my frustration to people who can and should be making a difference locally. Let’s be honest – I was nervous and I was scared – and I’m so glad I showed up.
Colorado Springs is full of people just like me. People who lead, people who volunteer, people who care. People who put in the hours with community members struggling and suffering. Likely, people who feel helpless and frustrated in the face of the world’s injustice.
To everyone just like me – don’t forget the biggest impact you can make on the world is the one closest to home. Let’s not be afraid of repercussions or retaliation knowing we have each other’s support. Make your voice known and heard and, maybe together, our small little voices will add up to something meaningful.
Mary Coleman
Links within this letter added by the editor for reader reference.
Letter to the Editor: Show up to make an impact
As an active member of the Colorado Springs community I am enraged.
Graduating from Harrison School District 2 is probably the most significantly positive foundation my life could have stood on. Maybe I didn’t read all of the classic novels, or learn advanced calculus (the District was in a deep time of transition and let’s be honest I wasn’t exactly prepared for college), but growing up around so much diversity in a community of kids proud to support each other left a mark on my soul. My experience growing up showed me it’s not so much about what you have and acquire, but about the positive difference we can make on each other. All tides rise together.
Recently, I’ve watched the world burning around me and I’ve felt overwhelmingly helpless to stop it. I’ve doubly felt more and more annoyed at myself for sitting on my couch with so much compassion and grief, without having an actionable way to do anything about it.
And then City Council members reprimanded Councilwoman Kimberly Gold for calm and commonsense comments she made in observance of Martin Luther King Day and I’d had enough. The only thing I could think to do was show up to City Council to give public comment about my horror and disappointment in some of our city leaders. The world is burning around us, but I care too much about our community to watch it happen here at home.
I ran to City Hall for a total of about five minutes between work obligations and made my voice heard. My single voice is so small, and the impact is highly questionable, but what a relief to have voiced my frustration to people who can and should be making a difference locally. Let’s be honest – I was nervous and I was scared – and I’m so glad I showed up.
Colorado Springs is full of people just like me. People who lead, people who volunteer, people who care. People who put in the hours with community members struggling and suffering. Likely, people who feel helpless and frustrated in the face of the world’s injustice.
To everyone just like me – don’t forget the biggest impact you can make on the world is the one closest to home. Let’s not be afraid of repercussions or retaliation knowing we have each other’s support. Make your voice known and heard and, maybe together, our small little voices will add up to something meaningful.
Mary Coleman
Links within this letter added by the editor for reader reference.
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