A Time to Reflect, A Call to Act
November 2025
I cannot believe it’s November and we’re just a few short weeks away from 2026! I know we all say this around this time of year but seriously … where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were doing a high kick and a hat tip ringing in 2025, and in a blink of an eye, we’re 11 months in with one to go. Whew.
Much like myself, I’m sure many of you have been paying attention to what’s going on with the federal and our state government. By the time this letter is published, the federal government may or may not have ended its 40+ day shutdown, families may or may not have received all or a portion of their SNAP benefits, federal employees may or may not have been paid or even returned to work, families may or may not be breathing a sigh of relief that their holiday travel plans can proceed without interruption, Indiana may or may not have made a decision about gerrymandering— I mean redistricting, and minority and women owned business may or may not still have the ability to thrive in our state and nation.
This is a lot for one country and one state to endure. It’s as if we’re playing a game of Wackamo— every time we turn around, we’re getting wacked and the hits just keep on coming. Several weeks ago I had an intense conversation with a woman business owner who was shocked to hear that women and Black people as a race are being negatively impacted by many of the actions of our federal and state officials. She went on and on about how nothing that had occurred was impacting her, and she was shocked to hear that many people in our community were facing unprecedented obstacles due to sweeping legislative decisions that were made within our lifetime.
Her comments made me mad but they also made me realize that the wedge between race and gender runs far deeper than many of us truly understand. I am of the firm belief that if there is an issue that impacts the quality of life for women, even though it may not impact my life, I have a responsibility to support those who may be harmed. The same goes for my race. I just have an inherent obligation to remain informed and involved, and lend an ear or my voice to ensure that people are listening to those who need to be heard most.
The next several months and years are going to be challenging. I encourage us all to remember that when it’s all said and done, we all want the same things out of life. Regardless of our gender, race or political party. Societal oppression leads to uprising. If you don’t believe me, watch the remake of Birth of a Nation. The film tells the true story of Nat Turner, an enslaved Black carpenter and preacher who led a four-day rebellion of both enslaved and free Black people in Southampton County, Virginia, in August 1831. Nat Turner's Rebellion resulted in the death of 55 White men, women, and children before state militias suppressed the uprising.
While Nat Turner’s rebellion is etched in our history through eyewitness accounts and testimony, this uprising, this revolution will be televised (some of ya’ll will catch that on the way home) and transported around the world to witness.
Let’s do better in 2025 and in the upcoming year. We owe it to ourselves and each other.
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Signing Off,
Denise
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