𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

We live in a town full of different stories, backgrounds, and experiences. That diversity is one of our greatest strengths. But we have also seen how misinformation, manipulation, and personal attacks can sow distrust and division, often with no facts, no substance, and no accountability.

Too often, these tactics are used not to uplift the community but to tear people down. When we allow that kind of behavior to go unchallenged, we create an environment where fear and confusion thrive instead of connection and progress.

Here is something I live by. I get to know people for myself. Not through gossip. Not through someone else’s opinions. I watch how people treat other and how they show up in our community. That is how trust is built. Not by hearsay but by real experience.

And remember this, 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. They twist the story, spread doubt, and hope you buy into it. But that only works when we stop thinking for ourselves.

Dr. King once said, “𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.” The solution is simple but powerful. Talk to each other. Listen. Be curious instead of judgmental.

None of us are perfect. We all have room to grow. But we cannot let division define us. We have too much at stake as neighbors, parents, workers, and elders to let our community be shaped by rumors or fear.

Let us do the harder work. Seeing one another. Hearing one another. Respecting one another even when we disagree.

It starts with us. All of us. Right now.

-Rickford Kirton