“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country and this world.”
— Sharon Salzberg
“Not voting is disrespecting the best of what this nation stands for.”
— Thomas Hauser
We are well into fall as I pen today’s article. The colors are beginning to turn, the air is crisp and chilly, and we have about 30 days to our next election.
I began with the two quotes thinking about focus and determination. Sharon Salzberg is a bestselling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in the West. She shaped her future and mindset after a very tumultuous upbringing, and realized meditation could sharpen focus, attitude and life accomplishments.
Thomas Hauser is a prize-winning investigative journalist and author, lawyer, and an avid boxing fan. Both American figures know the value of facts, digging deep for answers, and focus as they follow their passions.
As voters we need to have the same focus and seek answers to issues that sway each of us. Voting is incredibly personal and patriotic as we shape our nation moving forward in these trying times.
While we partner with the League of Women Voters to deliver non-partisan facts, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it a little more challenging. You can get the incredibly useful League of Women Voter guides this year online.
Check out this link and be informed: https://bit.ly/3namiPf. View all info at https://my.lwv.org/michigan/dearborn-dearborn-heights.
If you vote absentee, by mail or in person, exercise your rights and be heard!
Determination and focus are also greatly demonstrated this year by the celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year’s theme is Increasing Access and Opportunity.
In the pandemic, finding resources and employment opportunities for our local partners’ participants has been challenging. The ARC of Dearborn, Services to Enhance Potential and even Goodwill Industries are working every day to make their clients safe and provide a workforce to our local economy.
If you have employee openings, or future employees who need employment, please contact the chamber at 313-584-6100; we can make the connection or reach out directly.
The progress over the past decades can continue this month as we pay tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities. Their work helps keep the nation’s economy strong.
If you are a small business, we are distributing PPE kits to business owners. A big thank you to Wayne County and Wayne County Economic Development for the resources. We’ll be doing curbside deliveries Monday to Wednesday Oct. 12 to 14th. Our building is closed to the public, so when you arrive at the Bryant Branch Library, 22100 Michigan Ave., call 313-584-6100 and we’ll run one out to your car.
Finally you can contribute and have some fun this October by joining in our Fall Out of Quarantine Virtual 5K Race. Help support three of our finest charities effected by COVID-19. This virtual race can be dashed, strolled, skipped indoors or outside anytime in October.
Proceeds from your entry fee will benefit STEP, the ARC of Dearborn and the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit. Use the hashtag #ifelloutofquarantine and post your pictures on our Facebook event page.
Register at www.dearbornareachamber.org and get a fabulous team shirt, too. Show your fall colors and we’ll see you on the street or virtually around town.
Henry Ford famously said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,” plus the famous, “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” I refer to these quotes all the time to keep me going. I think they bear repeating as we traverse the next few months.
We are here for you and thankful for all the help and support!