Just five weeks ago, a group of 40 Northfield neighbors gathered in Depot Square for a vigil honoring Renee Good. Renee was a mother and wife, a writer and a poet, who was shot and killed while protesting ICE activity in her Milwaukee neighborhood. Vigil participants talked about how her death affected them. They also shared the  confusion, anger and sense of aloneness they felt in responding not just to the brutal actions of ICE but to the effect the president's budget cuts were having on the poor and vulnerable of all ages in our country. And they wanted to do something together to voice their concerns and to fight, peacefully, for change.

Over the past month there have been local demonstrations, planning meetings and training sessions intent on helping shape our town response to the chaos around us. Each activity has expanded the number of concerned neighbors and helped clarify a possible path forward.

We are inviting and urging everyone who has taken part in these activities -and anyone else interested in learning more- to come together this coming Tuesday, February 24 from 4:00-5:30pm in the Community Room at the Brown Public Library. We'll introduce our new name and mission statement, and talk together about the focus areas, with your input, that will guide our response moving forward. We need your ideas, suggestions and willingness to help plan and lead these activities and events, starting right now! And we'll all need to stay flexible enough to respond to new challenges that seem to pop up every day.