I love being a parent. Truly. It’s the greatest job in the world. But it's also at times pretty difficult. One of the hardest parts of it is deciding what to protect our kids from and what to gently let them see. This world is louder and heavier and more complicated then ever. But with our son, we’ve always tried to be pretty open with him about stuff. We want him to think critically. We want him to ask questions. And more than anything, we want him to grow up leading with love and empathy.
The other day I was at his mom’s apartment, and we were talking about everything happening in Minneapolis. Our son was listening quietly, taking it all in. I love that he doesn’t just hear, he listens. After a moment, he looked at me and asked, “Dad… does this make you not want to live in your favorite city?”
And without even pausing, I said, “No. It makes me want to live in the Twin Cities now more than ever.”
Because I have never seen a community rise up the way Minneapolis and St. Paul have in the last couple weeks. Personally I am hearing stories from my friends and family networking to protect schools. Neighbors checking on neighbors. People making sure families have groceries. Businesses handing out whistles so folks can warn each other when danger is near. Strangers becoming protectors. Communities coming together.
This is a place that welcomes people. A place that invites you to belong. A place where you can come as you are and build a better life for yourself and your kids. That’s the city I love. That’s the Twin Cities I know.
And today, as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I can’t help but think about his dream. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
the color of their skin but by the content of their character.." That's love over division. Action over silence. That's the Twin Cities!
I lived in St. Paul for a while, and I’ve never felt more instantly welcomed anywhere. Whether it was my neighborhood coffee shop (Workhorse Coffee Bar), or my favorite record store (Barely Brothers Records) which always seemed to be playing Wilco or Curtis Mayfield when I walked in.. just for me, or just walking down the street, I felt seen. I felt more energized, I felt more like myself, I felt at home. This is a place that celebrates art and creativity and togetherness. Art exhibits on frozen lakes in 10 degree weather. May Day parades in Powderhorn. Music, murals, gatherings, shared joy. This city knows how to come together. One time I was at a 4th of July party where a firework fell over into the group of people at the party.. For a second in was chaos and so scary.. But no one got mad at anybody, they just came together to make sure everyone was ok.. For me something truly scary turned into something truly beautiful..
That’s why it hurts to see what the Twin Cities have been going through the last couple weeks. When you love a place this much, you feel its pain. But I also hope the rest of the country is paying attention, not just to the headlines, but to the truth. To the people showing up for each other. To the neighbors protecting neighbors. To the community choosing compassion.
I believe in Dr. King’s dream. I believe in community. I believe in cities that open their arms instead of closing their doors.