Voting for Change is needed to "Build Back Better"

Today I listened to President Obama speaking at a community event on Systemic Racism in Philadelphia. His objective was to engage young Black voters to vote in the upcoming election. He metaphorically compared disenfranchisement of non-voters to those of us who exercise and don't see immediate results.  The gut trend may be to give up and stop exercising.  The better response would be to acknowledge that although you don't see immediate results you are developing a pattern for good health if you continue to exercise.

Voting is a right that we all need to exercise.  Although we may not see immediate results we must voice our opinions and speak up to further the conversation.  Change doesn't happen immediately.   Like exercise we often won't see immediate results but if you don't get involved or give up you won't see any results.  Change takes a long time and can only happen when it is pursued.  It requires cultivating a pattern of long term habits.  

We need the mindset of becoming involved and agreeing to make change.  If we model and get our peers to do the same we will gain further engagement.  We need to look forward to the long term and continue to exercise our rights to make change. As an advocate for change I have been drawn to the Biden/Harris campaign as I do believe they share a platform of humanity and decency that is needed desperately for our country.   

Coincidentally early this afternoon,  I had a long conversation with a new Facebook friend T. Michael Thomas.  He is the founder of a program called "The Peoples Academy".  This is the first program of its kind in the Boston area with the goal of engaging young and at risk youth to learn trade skills.   Students are taught to hold "hammers" and BUILD instead of holding "guns".  T. Michael had started this program in his home and has been working on it for over 15 years.  TPA recently broke ground to build a permanent school in Boston. This is a prime example of "Building Back Better".  He was recently featured on WCVB below and is working hard to make a difference in his community.  

Building programs such as TPA create opportunities that enhance all of our communities.  This is evidenced with the mission of the Mass Cultural Council, where I have been involved for over 10 years.  Communities grow and become safer havens when culture and innovation are brought to the local area.  This creates better economic opportunity for all of us at the grass roots level.  

Voting makes a difference.  Passion and perseverance make a difference.  We all benefit if we can work hard to vote for change and build back a better America.  We have the opportunity right now to make some changes.  Joe Biden's latest campaign ad illustrates this and the goal of becoming one America again.  We have to all exercise our voices and get everyone we know to vote.  Please join me in using your privilege to vote in the upcoming election.  We need each and every vote to count.  We all need to Build, Back, Better.  

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker.  She has also been serving as  the Chairperson for the Dover Cultural Council for her third term.  She greatest passion is working with and providing resources for her family, friends and clients to help make the world a better place.  

Time to Speak Up-This is no longer Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

I began this post last week and have updated it several times. I guess I have been reluctant to post it after watching the events against more liberal voices unfold over the past few weeks . Although I haven't been a victim directly we are all victims of hate. If we are afraid to speak up though we are in effect being complicit to that which we are afraid to speak out against.

I am scared to live in this country right now and it is not because of foreign terrorists or caravans of immigrants crossing our borders, it is because the president said he was a "Nationalist" at a recent campaign rally.  It is due to the rise of racism, hate and anti-semitism in the past few years. As a new update I am adding an article in today's NYT (Sat 11/3 about the rise of the white nationalist movement.

By Merriam Webster's definition a nationalist historically was someone who defended the national interest of one's country and wanted to maintain its independence, However since WWI and WWII it has taken on new meaning for dangerous ideologies. A "Nationalist" today is someone who supports the behavior of the far right extremists who are violent to anyone who they are xenophobic about.  

The president raises this fear every time he speaks or tweets. His base is reflected by the above image on the left that riled up the vitriolic hate in Charlottesville last year. The image on the right symbolizes freedom. I choose the right torch.


My fear elevated last week when Cesar Say, an avid Trump supporter, the pipe bomber  terrorized 14 more outspoken liberals, who have, in free speech disagreed with the views of this president by mailing each a package that fortunately never exploded. It reached an all time high when the Jewish community experienced the worst assault in US history as Robert Bowers elevated whistleblowing of antisemitism when he shot and killed eleven innocent people at at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.  The shooter chose this target as he blamed HIAS for bringing in immigrants to "kill his people".


We are living in dangerous times. The threats that seem to be causing the most damage are not global terrorism or those entering our country legally or illegally from other countries. Our biggest threat is divisiveness and in-grown hate caused by leadership who enjoy capitalizing on promoting xenophobia.  The people I am most afraid of look just like me. They can be my neighbors, co-workers or anyone sitting next to me on a bus. I wouldn't know by physical inspection.  I now live in constant unidentifiable fear.

In a prior blog, I wrote about the positive culture promoted by Fred Rogers and encourage you to read it. Ironically, the recent shooting incident took place in his neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. He was a conservative forward thinker who encouraged positive collaboration. If we can not work together we cannot survive as a country.

The election next Tuesday is extremely important. Without flipping the house there will be no system of checks and balances. There is no conversation period. The vitriolic and far right xenophobic policies of this president are able to spread and further divide us. Now is the time to speak up. I want to live in a place where I feel safe to write a blog and be able to pray at Shabbat services at my synagogue. I do not want to walk down my street in fear of being a victim to a neighbor who has a different perspective from me. Don't we all want the same? If you really do care about your country say and do something about it. Please make your voice heard and demand change. The election in November 6.

Wendy is a realtor in the Metrowest Boston area. The above post reflects her personal viewpoints only. If you would like to learn more about Wendy as a realtor please check out her website www.wendybcb.com.