Do we have a voice?

The project began several years ago when our schools began undergoing rapid change. Covid took a toll, additionally the increase of social and political issues began dominating our schools.

My tipping point came when I attended a school board meeting a few years ago.

This is an example of a person using their voice

The issue at hand involved a video shown to students at IMS which depicted police officers in a very bad light. I heard an officer explain how his daughter was being bullied at school because her dad was a cop

The courageous members of the community, that spoke, were given three minutes. The board looked uninterested as this father spoke.

Granted we were in the height of 'Cancel Culture' members of the community were being harassed for 'wrong speak'. Emails were sent to employers; people were fired, and lives were upended for not 'going along with the narrative'.

Seattle Police during the riots

Thankfully the 'defund the police' experiment did not turn out well. Crime rose everywhere including Mercer Island. Many businesses and lives were destroyed.

The board still gives us three minutes in their meetings. They still look annoyed and some glance at their phones when people describe their frustration. Those three minutes are valuable, and this highly partisan board is facing headwinds in a community divided.

Our voice is growing as the realities of poor leadership are becoming too obvious to ignore.