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By Don Leathers

Recently, I attended an awards banquet where four members of the Austin area were recognized for contributions to their communities and for their enrichment of the lives of young people with whom they came in contact. The honorees were comprised of a Hormel executive, a past commander of an Austin service organization, a small business owner from Rose Creek and a current principal at Austin Public Schools (APS).

The group was a  nice cross-section of our vibrant communities.

Each of the four recipients addressed the audience upon receiving his award. Their speeches were varied, but they all seized upon similar, uplifting themes. They talked about the rewards of working with young people, the satisfaction of reaching shared goals and a job well done. They each recalled that, when times got tough, working together and teamwork were essential components of success. They celebrated the power of camaraderie and the sense of joy that comes with meaningful tasks being completed both individually and together.

I left the banquet that night especially impressed by the message IJ Intermediate School Principal Dewey Schara shared with the adults in the room. He began his remarks by recalling a radio newscast he had listened to on his drive home that afternoon. A survey reported that 7 out of 10 Americans were worried about America’s future. Given the tenor of the nightly news these days, that was probably not a conclusion most listeners would question. However, Principal Schara did have an issue with the findings. In fact, he had a big issue.

Part way into his address, Schara called a sophomore boy from the audience up to the lectern. While walking up to the stage, he explained that this young man had envisioned, designed and helped complete a significant service project at Ellis Middle School which would benefit his classmates.

While the student explained how his service project came to fruition, Schara walked around the room displaying a whiteboard, arrayed with before-and-after photos of the work completed at Ellis. As the presentation evolved, the audience gained a deep sense of the mutual respect and confidence in one another that these two shared. It was an emotional 10 minutes, to be sure.

Schara concluded his presentation referencing the radio survey’s less than sunny implications. “Worried? Not me! I’m optimistic about the future, and you just saw the evidence right there in front of you. This young man is amazing, and we have countless young people in Austin schools and across the country who are doing unbelievable things each and every day. Let’s celebrate them and acknowledge that they are our future. That future, I’ll assert, is burning bright.” A beacon of inspiration seemed to spread powerfully throughout the room.

The 2024 election is almost upon us. Many have already cast their ballots, but the vast majority of us probably have not. This message, then, is for you. As you ponder casting your ballot, consider the qualities of kindness, compassion, joy, a reaching out to others and a fierce regard for something bigger, which only community can truly offer.

Check the box for that candidate who you firmly believe embodies the optimism of a bright future and the belief that whatever challenges tomorrow brings, we can solve them together as one.

Please vote Nov. 5.