Race…

Money…

& Politics.

That, in a lot of ways (IMO), was a good thing.

It taught me to major in the majors and minor in the minors.

It taught me to view people based on how they treated me, not by a label that had been slapped on them.

Rich, poor...

Mexican, Indian...

Republican, Democrat...

If you were good to me, we were good. If I got the vibe you were authentic, and genuinely a good person, we could rock together. And if you weren't? That didn't mean you were the worst person on earth and I couldn't stand your guts. It just meant we weren't gonna hang out. As my mom would say (I probably should start calling these “Ceceliaisms”):

get in where you fit in, and birds of a feather flock together.

That really let me accept people for who they were, not some identity I plastered on them. Literally anyone, from any walk of life... if you were my type of person, we'd hang.

There was a lot of good in that, and I wouldn't change it.

But I think it also left me disengaged…

namely from politics, and honestly from how government works, not just nationally but locally too. And that's important, because

That's where I'm at now. I've sat on the sidelines, busy taking care of me and mine, contributing in other ways. That's still good, and I'll keep doing it. But I think it's time to contribute in new ways too, and that starts with showing up and actually learning about my local community and the system that governs it.

Now, this doesn't mean I'll be running for office. At all. Haha. I've turned down multiple local officials on that front. I don't think it's something I need to do, especially not with a 5, 6, and 3 year old. It also doesn't mean you'll catch me pounding the pavement for any particular cause or party. Honestly, not my gig, and I don't think it's fruitful in this current climate.

What it does mean is you'll catch me:

why? Because those are the areas that make up the whole of community life.

We'll talk about, first, who they are as a person. Second, what they do. Third, how we as constituents actually interface with what they operate. It'll be open discussion, in an effort to build a better environment for all of us.

My goal is to simply show up and be useful. To understand before attempting to be understood.

Despite your deepest desires, I won’t be calling anyone out, putting anyone on the spot, or spinning something for clicks. Plenty of places already do that.

But I will do my best to create common ground, so we can start treating the people who run our city's systems the way we want to be treated... humanely. Seeing them as a person, not a job title.

So…

if you're reading this and it sounds like something you're up for,

subscribe.

If you're reading this and want to get involved but don't know where to start,

this is the perfect place.

In the last two months I've been to

had one on ones with some of the people who run Springfield, and it's been refreshing getting to know them as people and learn more about this place I call home.

I've come to find joy in hearing people's points of view, and catching the little intricacies of what's happening in the world around me. And as a result, I want to bring you along with me, so you can start showing up in kind... not for me, but for your community, for your kids... so you can start contributing in a meaningful way and start helping Springfield thrive and bring hope to our city.

Trust me…

sitting on the sidelines isn't as admirable as you think it is. Being unaware doesn't make stuff go away. Yes, you'll have to spend a couple hours, a couple times a month, in a room with kind of uncomfortable chairs and people who look different than you, and think different than you, and smell a little bit... but that's the fun of it.

So...

If you're in the 217, you're part of The Capitol Club. Whether or not you participate is up to you.

See you around.

And do me a favor…spread the word!