Editors Note March 2026: Editor's Note: Now What?

It finally happened, and the question now is how to move forward.

Spring is the season of fresh starts and new beginnings. Given that it was admittedly somewhat cliched when my neighbor stopped by on his daily walk to offer the best version of an apology he could muster.

The Harris/Waltz sign that was planted in our yard last fall did not sit well with him, and he very clearly let us know it. But he wanted to tell us he had made a mistake. I listened, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

I could have said thanks and went on with the day, but I realized that this moment held a bigger choice to be made. And it’s one that more and more people (I hope) will soon be reckoning with – how will we heal our community after the anger has subsided? How do we reconcile with our neighbors? Many of us, myself included, made a silent declaration as we found out which of our family, friends, and neighbors were really invested in the betterment of our community. And which ones wanted to burn it all down.

Spring feels especially promising after the long winter we went through. Yes, the weather was unusually mild, which brings a particular form of worry, but it’s the mental and physical scars of being under political siege that will have the more lasting effect. As we emerge from our flannel-lined comfort back out into the world, we will have that choice to make – how do we move forward? How do we build back the community that we fell in love with?

There are some simple steps we can take toward accepting an apology or reestablishing the unity that made your community great or that you always wished was there. Things we can do today. Things maybe that we were doing and then winter got in the way, or we got scared or felt hopeless. Or we were just mad. Anger is good, it’s necessary, but channel that energy into reclaiming your community. Get involved with local businesses, join up with some community organizations, take in an extra show at the theatre, lend support to a high school sports team, even when your kid isn’t playing. (We’ve got great options for all of those all across the magazine.)

Do the big acts like protest and march, but get hyper-local as well. Invite a neighbor over for a cookout or help the house across the street with their Spring chores. These are not revolutionary ideas, but they can be part of a quiet revolution because, as the Spring thaw hits and more people come out of their MAGA-fied slumber, we have to be prepared to meet them and move forward.

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