Skip to main content

Why Would You Do That?

Why would you do that?

The question entered my mind as I was signing my name on the line to file my candidacy for the school board in  my little west suburban community.

I have never aspired for political office, although, my late father told me that when I was born, my late mother wrote "Chairman of the Board" on the back of my baby picture.  Prophetic, perhaps?

Service has been a part of my middle name for a very long time.  I have mentored youth in my community, volunteered as a tutor, helped kids enjoy summer reading, and lead a group of really innovative little girls in a robotics-focused Brownie troop.  

My life, my message, can almost be summed up in my little company's trademark -  Read.Write.Think.Connect.™.  

I moved to my little community in 2007 and while I was still finding my way to the grocery store, was in a community struck by mass violence in 2008.  That one thing catapulted me into the public arena in a way that my simple homemaker/writer/consultant status hadn't expected.

Over the years, I have met many people who sincerely love this community and the children who make up the schools.  They want this to continue to be a sought-after community, after all, we live here because my husband researched all the enclaves in this city and chose this one because of the diversity of the schools, the emphasis on the arts, and the high academic standards.

Why me?

After I filed my paperwork and picked up my daughters from school, I told them what I did.  My older daughter's eyes sparkled and she did that kid-like open mouth gasp then she jumped over the armrest and hugged me.  "Mama, that's awesome!"  In the backseat, her sister was equally as delighted and said "That's cause kids come first." Her sister then chimed in with "yeah cause daddy said you are a community leader."  It all made me smile broadly to know at least the 3rd and 5th graders would support me.  

My little girl's enthusiasm didn't wane, she immediately called her friend and got her friend's mom instead who said she'd vote for me.  The girls then started thinking about how they would make my campaign signs and buttons.

This is really happening.

I am a firm believer that the community is made up of all of us, all of us have a part to play. It shouldn't matter our color, our income, or even our education status, we are all a part of the school district and all of our children are important.

Why me?

Because I am passionate about what I do and I believe strongly in supporting teachers to do what they do best - teach, that 21st century kids deserve a 21st century education, that the taxpayers deserve to have their questions answered and their issues understood - regardless of if they have students in the district or not,  the doors of communication should truly be open and honest, and finally, money/power/politics do not belong in the decision making of the district.  

It is time, perhaps my late mother was right.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hannah's Song

We came together last night and sang Hannah's song. Family from California was in town, it was the night before Aunt Hannah's Home Going Celebration. We met at my house late in the evening to fellowship, remember, hug, eat, and laugh. Thom felt the love in the room and I'm sure his mom would've appreciated us doing what she did all her life - love. Aunt Hannah was a gracious woman. Her gentle spirit, sparkling eyes, and constant smile will be remembered. She has left us physically, but never spiritually. The laughter was like music in Thom's ear. For the first time in weeks I saw my cousin relax. He has been in a tornado for the past four weeks from his mother's diagnosis to her death. Even in her final stage, Aunt Hannah was granted her desire. She asked to not suffer long when it was her time to go, she had been a caregiver her whole life and I'm sure her prayer was for her son. In the last days of her life, she still greeted well wishers with a wa...

Brothers, Can we Talk?

 I'm a Black woman, born of a Black woman and a Black man. When my mother died, it was my father who nurtured me and instilled in me a sense of pride of self, of my race, of my abilities to do whatever I put my mind to do. He never imposed limitations on me as a Black woman. The only caution he ever gave me was to not burn my candle at both ends and to be mindful of my health, I am an asthmatic. He never stopped me from trying anything and always encouraged me. Daddy was a strong Black man who introduced me to Shirley Chisholm when I was a little girl. He reminded me of the fortitude of my late mother's quest for gender equality in the workplace and of the namesake who marched at Selma.  He is the one who gave me my pseudonym, Tayé. Daddy was a strong tower of empowerment and fought all the way to his last breath for social, gender, and racial justice. It is in remembering my father this morning that I'm asking the brothers, can we talk? What is it, especially those of my g...

Ashes to Ashes

 This is Ash Wednesday. For a lot of Catholics and Anglican Christians, it begins the holy season of Lent. We remember we are but dust and to dust we return, ashes to ashes.  It is a somber reminder of our humanity and the finality of life. We are a mere breath. Today, as a Hospital Chaplain Resident, I am imposing ashes on patients, family, and staff. It is a visible marker of a shared faith and belief. We look with anticipation to the finished work of salvation on the cross and in eager hope of the resurrection. As my day progressed, I noticed how much hope was in the eyes of the ones giving and receiving this reminder of our existence. It was both a somber moment and a joyful moment. Two things can exist at the same time. Like the world we find ourselves in. Even as it seems like the darkest, certainly the darkest I’ve known in my six decades on this earth. Completely imperfect as a nation, there was still a glimmer of light until the nightmare became reality. We wonder abo...