The loss of lives at nearby Apalachee High School hit our community hard.
Many of our students carry stories of gun violence in their bodies. They go to school thinking about it. Some have witnessed gun violence in their homes, some have lost family members to it, and some have participated in it. We've all heard shots outside our apartment windows while we were trying to sleep.
Every election year, I picture our students listening to the radio, hearing people in power argue about whether or not they are worthy to be here. The rising tide of anti-immigrant propaganda adds a specific, personal sense of danger to the violence in the culture at large. It tells the children we work with that they are targets.
In a climate that isolates and stresses our students, it takes special effort and care to make space for healthy experiences of childhood.
It takes mentors who share their background and culture to show them that they can make a positive difference. It takes patient adults to give them the tools they need to process their feelings and grow. It takes a diverse community to tell them that there's a place where they are safe, welcome, and equipped to thrive.
I'm thankful to be part of Presencia in times like this. We're a small community, but when it seems like violence is the rule of the day, we can look at our work, at the diverse community around us, and at the smiles on our students faces. We won't let violence have the last word.