Like many others, I experienced a difficult childhood marked by abuse and uncertainty. I was fortunate to find support through sports and a few local programs that helped me navigate those challenges. Tragically, several of the programs I relied on later lost their funding and disappeared.

In recent years we have also seen a weakening of community bonds. Organizations are increasingly operating in isolation, and too many programs that once served our neighborhoods have been defunded or shuttered altogether. We mourn the loss of vital services — from one of the last birthing centers closing to the sharp rise in grocery and fuel prices and the increase in unemployment — all of which have deepened the hardship for many families.

Someone once said, “One person can change the world.” With so much at stake, that responsibility falls to us. If we come together, rebuild our networks of support, and advocate for sustained investment in community programs, we can restore opportunity and hope for those who need it most.