Integrity at center of core values as councilor
Humans are made up of a unique patchwork of differences. Politics, religion, race, gender, finances, priorities and even how we like our coffee but what I want to spend my time focusing on is what unites us together.
You can see unity in times of crisis such as experiencing a local natural disaster, examples are snowpocalypse in 2019, or the fires of 2020, 2021 and now 2022. We look beyond our differences and react with behaviors of service. This gesture is driven by our moral compass and foundational values. It happens so quickly that it interferes with our ability to pause allowing time for our brains to consider those differences.
Examples of these behaviors are neighbors checking on each other when the temperatures are extreme, offering food to someone who is hungry, or creating space allowing for a sense of safety. We have these behaviors because we have a strong social infrastructure, and this is something that we should be proud of.
I am honored to witness this diverse unity in Cottage Grove, and it is clear to me that we have an abundance of goodness. I want to spend my life being grateful for what I have and continue to seek out the needs of our community so together we can make it a better place for all.
On my sign you will see my core values. I have a vision of kids playing in the streets and strangers becoming friends. I stand by my integrity and will be transparent. I will respond with compassion and respect for everyone.
“When I was a child and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” – Fred Rogers
