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A Litany of Good


 

Ten years ago on this date I was deep into yet another HCPSS Board of Education race.

Five years ago I continued to be perplexed by the lack of transparency from a Columbia group calling themselves The Rouse Project.

Today?

National news makes it hard to concentrate on the local scene these days. In the past I found myself passionate, frustrated, or even angry about Columbia/HoCo issues. Now there are far too many days when I look at my world and feel more fearful than anything else.

I still care deeply about the school system. I am worn out from hoping that elected BOE members will vote to prioritize the most vulnerable. So often they do not.

I still distrust groups who won’t tell you who they are. 

On the other hand, there are people in our community doing wonderful things. Some of them weren’t in existence back in 2016 or even 2021. (Or I hadn’t yet learned about them.) For example:

Columbia Community Care

Community Ecology Institute 

Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods

Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County

Sobar

HoCo Pride

CARY

I’m sure you can think of a few more yourself: people and groups whose commitment to community good gives you a feeling of hope on days when hope is hard to find. Feel free to suggest others to add to my list.

When I look back on April 5th five years from now I want to remember how grateful I was for people who spread the light in a very dark time.


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