Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Lena C. Taylor
I’m grateful this Thanksgiving because I still have hope for a better future. I know it’s been a tough year for Milwaukee.
We saw our city burn on national television in August, we watched horror story after horror story roll out from Lincoln Hills, 53206 was featured in a documentary as America’s most incarcerated zip code, we learned that poisonous lead is rampant in our drinking water, we experienced the nastiest, most divisive election I’ve seen in my lifetime, and reports of hate crimes have skyrocketed across the nation.
Despite all that, I see a reason for optimism every day in the eyes of my neighbors.
I grew up in Milwaukee, went to Milwaukee public schools, and graduated from UW-Milwaukee. Through the grace of God, I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such a resilient group of people. I am truly blessed that the people of Milwaukee continue to elect me to represent them in the State Senate.
When people tell me they’re having a hard time finding something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, I get it. People are hurting. There are 240,000 people living in poverty in Milwaukee, and we have more children living in poverty than we did ten years ago.
Those numbers keep me up at night. Our babies are going to bed at night with empty stomachs in freezing homes. Our children are our future, and it’s a punch in the gut to think that we’re giving them less than our best.
But I don’t accept that statistic as the norm. We have the power as a community to help those less fortunate. Because that’s what being part of a community means.
It means we have each other’s back and look out for one another. No matter what. It means that your brother is my brother, and my sister is your sister.
I want you to remember others less fortunate when you’re eating a hot meal with your family this Thanksgiving. Remind yourself that there are members of your community going without.
In the spirit of good community, I encourage you to give back in whatever way possible this Thanksgiving. I know I’ll be doing my part. Giving back is not always easy, but it is always right, and not just at Thanksgiving.
There are many ways you can help out, whether that’s donating a turkey or volunteering at the soup kitchen. Milwaukee is a great city because our people make it so.
Sometimes a smile to a stranger, sharing an apple or a dollar to someone in need is enough to remind ourselves that the world is good and that there are things to be grateful for. While the political climate in Madison may seem to divide us, there’s much more that brings us together.
Like the saying goes: United we stand. Divided we fall. If we’re going to survive the challenges of the coming years, it will only be because we stuck together and refused to give up.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful that we have many, many more days ahead to preserve and make a better future for our children.
I’m reminded of the Maya Angelou quote “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” Let’s be grateful for each day ahead of us, because every day is a new opportunity to do better. Together, we can and will emerge stronger.
Join Senator Taylor’s email list to learn more about what’s going on at the Capitol by emailing her at Sen.Taylor@legis. wi.gov. Or, connect with Senator Taylor on social media on Facebook.com/SenLenaTaylor, Twitter.com/SenTaylor or follow her at Instagram.com/Lena.Taylor.