“We the People” Create the Strongest Solutions

Last weekend I sat down to a routine I’ve always cherished. I poured my cup of coffee, pulled out my computer and opened my mail-in ballot.

Casting a vote is a very familiar process for most Americans, but it should never be taken for granted. Free and fair elections are one of the most important rights that define our democracy. Our power is exercised with every selection, a right that has become increasingly threatened around the world and here at home.

This month, another set of consequential decisions arrived at our doorstep. We have races for federal, state and local offices that vary by region, and there are three ballot measures that every Washingtonian can weigh in on. As we decide — whether it’s who represents us or the type of community we want to become — it’s important to look beyond ourselves.

Consider your loved ones

Looking over my ballot, I realized my vote is going to impact my parents’ lives in an even greater way this year. The two of them are preparing to move to Vancouver soon as they begin a new chapter. My greatest hope is that they feel welcomed, respected and connected when they land here.

I also think of my son Marcus who is preparing to graduate from high school and take his next big step into adulthood: college. Like many parents, Courtaney and I are filled with pride and a smidge of anxiety. As he considers his options, we want to make sure Washington is a place he’s proud to call home.

I also want him to be a part of a community where differences are not viewed as threats, but as opportunities to learn from each other. I want him to see examples of people using curiosity, respect and healthy deliberation to solve local challenges.

These are the very traits that have served our democracy well. In our own state, bipartisan compromise and grassroots organizing have allowed us to protect public health with one of the strongest clean-air laws in the nation (2005), funnel billions of new dollars directly into K-12 classrooms (2017), and extend paid family leave to nearly every worker in the state (2020).

I want these things for every family, regardless of their background, circumstances or beliefs. And I suspect you want something very similar for the people you love.

Consider your community

If you’re like me, you probably also care about your neighbors and our broader community.

Well, voting is designed to connect us all. It asks us to consider programs and policies that affect the larger whole of which we are part of. In this way, voting refines the voice of “We the People.”

This is why I also make a point to think about and connect with my neighbors every election cycle. I ask about their stance and how it might impact them and our community.

If I could describe these conversations visually, it would be as a Venn Diagram. There are places where our views don't overlap. Then, there's a substantial space in the middle where our hopes and aspirations intersect. Most of us want our children to be safe, our families to have opportunities and our neighbors to be treated with dignity. What if we spent more of our time and energy in that shared space?

We do this work daily at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. We listen and learn from community members, especially those closest to challenges and furthest from opportunities. In fact, the values that guide our organization were informed by the many partners we work with. These include fostering belonging, advancing equitable solutions and building bridges that connect people in different communities. These guiding principles have allowed us to strengthen our relationships and our region in greater ways.

I also believe they serve as a blueprint for thriving in a community comprised of different backgrounds, identities, family structures and lived experiences. Southwest Washington is this kind of community and will continue to grow even more diverse over the next decade.

What’s being asked of us

The potential implications of this election extend beyond any immediate changes in leadership or policy. They include how schools create safe learning environments for students, whether youth can fully participate in activities, and how state and local governments fund programs that strengthen our communities.

It's also important to recognize how divisive narratives can shape the way we see one another. Too often, emotionally charged issues are used to create division rather than encourage meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing our communities. When that happens, we risk losing sight of the people and families at the heart of these decisions.

Fighting each other is not an effective way to defend freedom and fairness, let alone find solutions to the challenges we face. Instead, we need to find ways to work together. That’s not to say we will always agree. We don't need to. But we can insist that our disagreements should never come at the expense of the dignity and safety of our neighbors. We can respect differences, listen with humility and still stand firmly for the dignity, safety and belonging of every person.

This is our responsibility as members of our community, and particularly those of us entrusted with leadership or power. We must discuss issues like these at length and create comprehensive solutions, especially when proposed policies create barriers or limit support for our neighbors.

That’s because our freedoms are all connected. When laws are applied selectively, everyone’s freedom is at risk. When some people are excluded, treated as less worthy of protection, or prevented from participating fully, it weakens our democracy.

Trust and participate in the process

With the midterm election upon us, now is the time to model our values in our homes and neighborhoods.

By doing this, we often find that what we share in common — even with those whom we disagree with — is far greater than the wedges or threats being used to divide us. So, this election season, I encourage you to ask yourself what type of community and country you want to build for your family, your neighbors and the generations to come.

At the Community Foundation, we define this as a flourishing and just southwest Washington — one where prosperity is shared, belonging is universal and everyone holds a deep commitment to caring for one another.

While we may envision different futures, I know we can agree that our right to vote is incredibly special. Part of the reason democracy works is because it continually moves us toward a future we envision together.

I hope you’ll join me in participating thoughtfully as our community considers who will best represent us and what policies best serve “We the People” — all of us.

And when the election is over, we will still be neighbors. We will still share this place we call home, and we will still have important work to do together.

The solutions are rarely simple or quick, but this is exactly what makes them durable and meaningful.