Communities in Focus: Finding Common Ground Across America

Selfie: This is me at the Manhattan Public Library, a place I visit once or twice a week. When I was little, about the age my daughter is now, my mom would bring my sister and me to this same library. Giggling, we would crawl between the benches behind me. Now I bring my own children here, and they crawl between the benches, creating their own new—and yet shared—childhood memories.​

Selfie:​ I decided to take my selfie at Ground Zero. I grew up just a few blocks away, and was displaced for months after 9/11. Over the years, I saw the site recover and transform. Manhattan has many traumas, but has always found a way to heal, to grow, and to remember those it lost. My selfie points at the sky as a nod to the heavens, and as a reminder that when it gets knocked down, New York always gets back up again.

What It Is (Emily from Kansas):​ This is the alley behind our home. This is where garbage trucks go to pick up the trash. It's where we park our cars. And it functions as a shortcut of sorts for people passing through on foot or by bike. It can feel unsafe to be in the backyard, especially as a mom with two young children. Hidden from the more public street view, yet exposed to people we don’t know.

What It Is (Ty from New York):​ I chose a suitcase to represent displacement and migration. After 9/11 my family and I "lived out of a suitcase" for several months, and later in my life, during a challenging personal period, I did it again.​

​Many New Yorkers arrived here with nothing but a suitcase and turned this place into their home. I am passionate about welcoming people here, and believe it should always be possible to make it in New York, no matter your start in life.​

What It Can Be (Emily from Kansas):​ This is from an actual conversation with our next-door neighbor. He hangs out in the front yard. When we first moved in, I wasn't too sure about him—he was loud. But as we got to know him, I realized he cares. He was so happy for us when our kids were born. He always waves hello with a big smile. My fear melts away when I know the people in my community. I feel safe.

What It Can Be (Ty from New York):​ One of my passions is to cook for familyand friends. ​

As a Japanese-American, I love connecting to Japanese culture through its cuisine. Ramen is the ultimate comfort food. Making a good bowl of noodles takes a while. It slows you down. ​

Hospitality is a core value of mine, and I feel truly myself sitting at the table with family, talking, laughing and connecting over food. Cooking for others is a privilege—it means you are lucky enough to have a home to share.

Selfie: This is a photo of me overlooking the Mendenhall Glacier. When I first came to Juneau, the glacier was large enough that people could walk on the ice. Now it does not even touch the lake. I have also been through a distinct transition in my life—from seasonal guiding to now settling somewhere permanent and gravitating toward stability. In a sense, the recession of the glacier parallels my own personal change.

Selfie: Our public library truly is a place where everyone knows your name. It’s more than books. It’s a warm welcome. It’s “we-are-living-life-together" chatter. Like characters in books, anyone stepping through these doors has experienced laughter, tears, beginnings, endings, comfort, uncertainty. But we are more than characters in a book, we are living, breathing people who find a peaceful and restful place when we spend our time at our library where we are known.

What It Is (Rylee from Alaska): This image depicts wooden stairs leading up through a trail in the Tongass National Forest. These stairs are clearly intentional—laid out and excavated by Juneau’s local trail crew. This photo is a metaphor for how we can currently tackle the housing crisis: the issue is so large in scale with so many elements to consider that the only way forward is to take small baby steps toward achieving a broader purpose.

What It Is (Jill from Wisconsin): Name stripped off, dumpster filling with unwanted supplies, building desolate once again. How many times have we seen this, knowing we now must travel to get needed services? The road is long when crisis hits and medical needs are urgent. How fatigued we feel when the simple becomes complex. When we once again put our very selves in the hands of an unknown professional who does not know us, who we may never see again?

What It Can Be (Rylee from Alaska): The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest temperate rainforest in the world. This forest is a sanctuary for me in a way that no other place is. Looking up into the canopy, you feel protected by the tangled branches above you. This is a metaphor for the safety and security that long-term housing can provide people. Once this basic need is covered, people can begin to move forward in other areas of their lives.

What It Can Be (Jill from Wisconsin): Change is unlikely to happen quickly, but it CAN happen. Bit by bit. A growth of one facility, one doctor, leading to another, and another in whatever health related area needed. A clinic, pharmacy, a veterinarian. A thriving network that blossoms into a system that supports the needs of our community IN our community. It can happen. We must keep hope and believe in better days.

Selfie:​ I took this selfie at Amtrak Union Station in Springfield because it symbolizes my first escape from home as a kid. That first train trip to New York City with my brother opened my eyes to the world and sparked my passion for travel, photography, and art. I began to build perspective on my hometown.

Selfie: Historic C-Street was once known for all the wrong reasons, a place people warned you about. Many still avoid it. But step onto this street today, and you’ll find something different. Culture. Small businesses built from courage. Stories from around the world woven into one community. It didn’t happen overnight. It took people choosing connection over division. Yet fear still keeps many away, and they miss the beauty of what community can truly become.​

What It Is (Alex from Massachusetts):​ The food truck parked under an overpass here illustrates a critical issue: communities lacking permanent access to nutritious food rely on temporary, mobile vendors. While this truck provides some food access, it’s a band-aid solution to a systemic problem. Food deserts are characterized by the absence of permanent grocery stores and fresh food options, meaning residents in these areas depend on sporadic food trucks or convenience stores with limited healthy choices.

What It Is (Dami from Missouri):​ This image shows a wide street with cars lined along both sides and people moving through the space on bikes and in vehicles. There is activity, but little interaction. Everyone is present, yet disconnected. The openness of the street highlights the distance between people, reflecting how we can share the same environment while remaining socially and culturally separate.

What It Can Be (Alex from Massachusetts)​: I found this image striking and authentically representative of Springfield’s culture. A biker group passes through, destination unknown, but the scene captures something essential: community. Real change happens here, among people coming together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

What It Can Be (Dami from Missouri):​ This image features a building marked “Culture C-Street,” representing identity, expression, and community. The clean, bold lettering stands as an invitation into something deeper than the surface. It reflects the possibility of connection through shared experiences, local businesses, and cultural exchange. This space symbolizes what can happen when people move beyond fear and step into environments that welcome difference and community.​

Selfie: Immigrant parents, first generation, first to own a home. Four humans, three dogs, one cat; eat, sleep, and play in this place we call our own. This house was built in 1923, it has hosted many families with their own stories to tell. My wish is to be among those to keep telling stories of this house. I know of this privilege and it is why I fight so hard to keep this dream alive, for my sake and for that of my family's.

Selfie: This place is filled with live music 6 days a week. This where I was reborn as a musician because I stopped playing after both my parents passed away. After six years of no music I walked into this place and I've been playing every week since then. I also got married there.

What It Is (Guillermo from Washington):  Out of sight out of mind, as the proverb goes. This is not downtown, this was taken driving by a quiet neighborhood. Cars will drive by, forgetting that inside that tent is a human being. By the next time I drive around to this place, this tent will be gone. The person's condition will be the same, but the place they call home, taken away by those that don't want to see.

What It Is (James from Maryland): Lack of community connection. In all of our communities, we need more art and music in our lives but there are so many things keeping that from happening. Music brings people together and connects us in ways that we usually don't see. 

What It Can Be (Guillermo from Washington): A step in the right direction. With so many out of homes, our community is showing us that it cares, that it is listening, and down to the most basic thing; to provide a basic need. This is the second project in our neighborhood, our neighbors have mixed opinions, but before construction began this land was a tiny home project for those undergoing some tough times. We noticed petty crime decrease in our neighborhood.

What It Can Be (James from Maryland): As a musician, I see music as more than entertainment—it is a tool for building stronger communities. This image captures what I hope more communities can become: places where people gather not because they are the same, but because they share a common experience. Through music, strangers become neighbors, differences become strengths, and people find joy in being together. This photograph represents a future where creativity, inclusion, and human connection are at the center of community life.

Selfie: This picture was taken in Weequahic Park by the lake and brings back fond memories of my childhood and family. One of my first remembrances is of my Great Uncle Buddy taking my siblings and me to the lake to fish. While there taking this picture, we ran into a father and son doing just that—fishing (and the son caught one)! It is amazing to think that over 50 years later, the park and lake are still bringing families together.

Selfie: This photograph was taken along the Licking River, a place that has been part of my life through every stage of growing up in Newark. Today, I share it with my daughter, creating a connection across generations. Long before Newark was established, the river supported Native peoples and later helped shape the community through commerce, transportation, and recreation. The water shaped us, and over time, we shaped the water.

What It Is (Yolanda from New Jersey): The downtown and university areas of Newark are experiencing significant growth, including the building of housing developments. This picture shows a housing development that will span a city block. On the surface this is marvelous: building housing in a city that has a dearth of it. Deeper reflection, however, raises concerns. My community work with long-term residents indicates that new city housing is unaffordable and families have a need for larger units. The lack of attention to long-term residents’ (Black and Brown people) needs feels intentional. Safe, affordable, accessible, and high-quality housing that meets ones needs is one of the most important health supporting assets people and families can have. Sadly, underneath the new, shiny exterior in Newark are primarily Black and Brown people and families struggling and being pushed out.

What It Is (Stacey from Ohio): This image represents a community in transition. A former bridge remains beside new infrastructure beyond it built to support housing and development associated with Licking County's emergence as the Silicon Heartland. The Licking River flows nearby, connecting these changes to the water that has shaped Newark for generations. While growth brings opportunity, it also raises questions about drinking water, water quality, affordability, and the long-term health of the ecosystems that depend on the river.

What It Can Be (Yolanda from New Jersey): This picture shows the Kruegar-Scott Mansion, an iconic mansion that was first a home to Gottfried Kruegar, a city beer maker and later the home to Louise Scott, Newark’s first Black female millionaire. The mansion has been recently restored and is designed as a community hub. Among other things, the mansion now includes a cafe, shops, a theater, and co-working spaces. Renovations of the mansion and continued construction of the surrounding area (look carefully to the right of the mansion) include truly affordable housing, a critical and important social determinant of health.

What It Can Be (Stacey from Ohio): This image represents what could be: a future where growth and conservation exist in balance. As Licking County becomes part of the new Silicon Heartland, the health of our water, land, and ecosystems will become even more important. The daisies symbolize the fragile connections that sustain life. They remind us that every decision we make affects the environment and the people who depend on it. By protecting our natural resources, we can create a future where communities, ecosystems, and economic growth thrive together.

Selfie: This hillside is a short hike from my house and is where my wife and I privately exchanged vows before our marriage. It showcases most of our town and the Columbia River. The wildflowers are popping, bringing out the photographers, and soon the winds and river whitecaps will bring summer wind sport enthusiasts.

Selfie: I chose an image of myself walking at White Rock Lake. The lake is a respite from the hurried atmosphere of Dallas and offers a sense of tranquility and calm. I try to go here once or twice a week to clear my mind and remember that even though getting across town can take 45 minutes in traffic, I can drive 5 minutes from my house and forget about that—​even for just an hour.

What It Is (Jay from Oregon): The condition of the high school gives a bleak outlook for the future of The Dalles' students. In this photo, my elementary aged kiddo is lost in the dark shadows of an outdoor hallway of the high school, framed by the deteriorating structure of our aged educational facility. The school is ill-equipped to keep our students safe, focused, and driven in a fast-paced world that is leaving them behind.

What It Is (Melanie from Texas): The pills are mundane colors but each one can alter your chemical makeup, your day, even your life. I like that they look harmless but with a list of side effects as long as your arm. Will one of them make you need a prescription for another? Will insurance cover the cost willingly or will you have to jump through hoops to afford it?

What It Can Be (Jay from Oregon): The old Sorosis Park play structure was built in the '90s. It was expansive, imaginative, and very Pacific Northwest. It was truly loved by the community, and there was an uproar when the parks department decided to replace it. Its age was showing, though—the wood was rotten, broken, and falling apart. Even on the weekends, it was surprising to see more than a handful of kids at the park. Every afternoon, there are dozens of kids running around the new structure, and on the weekends, it's a zoo! It is a great representation of how sometimes public sentiment stands in direct opposition to the benefit of our children. 

What It Can Be (Melanie from Texas): In my ideal version of health in our world everyone is able to afford and have access to healthy foods. The costs for these items (and distance needed to get them) are unimaginable to many families. Health could feel like an adventure to make recipes with produce you’ve never tried, or health could feel like medical bills hanging over you and hoping the costs get waived off your credit report in a few years.

Selfie: This selfie was taken in front of Pittsburg High School, a place that holds deep meaning for me and my family. Five generations of my family have graduated from this school, including me. In a city with one comprehensive high school, students from neighborhoods across Pittsburg come together here, creating lifelong friendships and a shared sense of identity.

Pittsburg High helped shape who I am, teaching me the values of hard work, resilience, respect, confidence, and community. It is where I learned that success is built not only through individual effort, but through the support of those around us.

I often say that Pittsburg is more than a community—it is a family. That spirit is reflected at Pittsburg High School, where the phrase “Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate” continues to connect generations of graduates. As a proud Pittsburg High alumna and now Mayor of Pittsburg, this place reminds me where I came from and why I am committed to serving the city that helped raise me.

Selfie: Colfax: Here I am, in front of the school that drew us to live in the city. For us, one of the most amazing benefits of living in the city was the opportunity for our kids to attend school in a diverse and welcoming community. The children who attend our school have arrived here from dozens of countries, represent a wide range of religious backgrounds, and include kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds. It is so important to us that our kids form lasting connections with people from a variety of life circumstances as they learn about life, friendship, and community.

What It Is (Dionne from California): This image captures a daily reality for many Pittsburg residents. While our community continues to grow, too many people must commute long distances for work, sacrificing time that could be spent with family and loved ones. Expanding local job opportunities can help create a better balance between housing and employment, improving quality of life while reducing traffic, emissions, and the burden of long commutes. For Pittsburg, creating jobs closer to home is about more than economic development—it is about strengthening families and community.

What It Is (Kerry from Pennsylvania): Navigating our healthcare system is overwhelming, and patients can feel abandoned, left to figure it all out on their own. In some areas, patients can’t get connected to the providers they need. In other areas, specialists are accessible, but navigating between them is overwhelming. Patients can wonder, who is looking out for me and my health?

What It Can Be (Dionne from California): This image represents what is possible when people have more time to enjoy the community they call home. Throughout the summer, Pittsburg residents gather for events like our Classic Car Show, where neighbors connect, local businesses thrive, and families create lasting memories together. As our city works to create more jobs closer to home, the goal is about more than economic growth—it is about improving quality of life. Less time commuting means more time for community, more time for family, and more opportunities to enjoy the moments that bring Pittsburg together.

What It Can Be (Kerry from Pennsylvania): What we fundamentally need, in healthcare, is a change in perspective. Our systems have developed over time to focus on diseases and payment structures instead of patients and seeing things from their perspective. While individual providers often care deeply and try to help, our systems are no longer patient-centered. While it’s hard to change complex systems with decades of tradition, it can be done, and the result could transform the experience of healthcare for patients and providers.

Selfie: This is a hidden 'off the trodden' path spot that me and my childhood friends used to hangout at. Now, it’s a place to walk my dogs.

Selfie: The location of this photo is where I was born years ago on Thanksgiving day and where I was given the Diné (Navajo) name "Turkeyboy" by my maternal great uncle (a traditional practitioner). This is the hogan (an eight-sided building that is used for living, ceremonial, and storage purposes) where we had our Diné traditional wedding in 2004. I would like to have my ashes spread nearby when I no longer exist. This location is of utmost importance to me.

What It Is (Maya from Minnesota): This is a memorial bench for someone in our community who committed suicide while he was young. This bench has been through random vandalism—being burnt and moved. It stands alone now in a wide open area.

What It Is (Curtis Ray from New Mexico): This is an image of downtown Farmington, N.M., at a prominent intersection. One of the buildings in this area has a symbol—a Diné (Navajo) symbol that is often mischaracterized, misassossociated, and misidentified with the swastika image used by the Nazis during WWII. This symbol has numerous meanings by the Diné and it is in the oral creation stories. The Nazis appropriated the symbol and reversed it. After WWII, the Diné artisans collectively quit using the image due to its association with the Nazis. In recent years, some Diné artists have started to reclaim the image and started using the symbol in their artworks again. The image addresses the larger issue involving the history of racism in our community, nationally and internationally.

In April 1974, three Diné men were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in the outskirts of Farmington by several white teenagers. This incident resulted in numerous protest marches and racial skirmishes between the citizens of Farmington, especially when the white teenagers were given light sentences for their acts and charges. Since 2024 and with the 50th anniversary of the killings, concerned citizens have held non-violent memorial walks/marches in the streets of Farmington, N.M.

Around 2018, a Diné man was shot and killed by a white police officer responding to a call at a Walmart parking lot. This also sparked protest marches by the Diné demanding justice, investigation, and transparency of the Farmington Police Department.

In 2024, a Lakota Native high school student was forced to take off her beaded graduation cap adorned with an eagle feather at the Farmington High School commencement exercises. This incident drew national attention, and it drew a protest march after the graduation ceremony. The incident resulted in changes in the school district policies addressing the use of Native American regalia and traditions. Surrounding school districts followed and made changes in their school policies as well.

What It Can Be (Maya from Minnesota): People can bloom if they have the resources they need to succeed. This flower represents everyone who has overcome mental health struggles as they bloom amongst peers.

What It Can Be (Curtis Ray from New Mexico): This is an image of the feet and shoes of several citizens of Farmington, N.M., and the surrounding communities including the Mayor of Farmington, several tribal leaders, sports team coaches, teachers, a tribal civil rights advocate and activist, local journalists, parents, two minors, an adult surviving daughter of one of the three Diné (Navajos) murdered in April 1974 (mentioned under What It Is), and also street/homeless people in the area.

After much thought on how to interpret "What It Can Be", I invited several people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and diverse vocations/careers to have a conversation on my chosen topic under What It Is—racism and belonging. At the end of a two-hour conversation, I proposed several ideas that could be a starting point for all of us moving forward. This is the image I chose as my photograph of what could be.

The feet and shoes metaphorically symbolize the concept of "all walks of life". Also, an interpretation of the phrase "do not judge another person until you walk in their shoes". Lastly, its an interpretation of the Diné (Navajos) philosophical phrase and the cultural teachings of "walking in beauty."

Despite the challenges and circumstances, I am pleased overall with the outcome of the assignment. This final, single image may not reflect what took place in our conversation and in its entirety—the frustrations, the pains, the hurt, the trauma, and the pains voiced and shared by all the participants. However, I hope this is a "small step" in moving forward together and having many more conversations as a community and citizens of Farmington, N.M.

On a personal and artist front, I have tentative plans of creating similar or extensions of this assignment in different locales, communities, and cities. Don't know how those plans will take shape, but I look forward to creating them. Thank you.

Selfie: Once an abandoned lot, the Kilrush Food Forest is now Kentucky's largest food forest, and is where I chose to take my selfie. This neighborhood project highlights the intersection of food security, green equity, and affordable housing. When we advocate for equitable housing, we must also advocate for the community spaces that sustain the people living there. This thriving edible and medicinal forest is a blueprint for what a healthy, holistic neighborhood can look like, and we hope to expand it across the city.

Selfie: This place is important to me because it represents connection, support, and community. Through my work here, I have been able to connect individuals and families with resources and support during challenging times.

I have also had the opportunity to learn from people of different cultures and backgrounds who have made Lexington their home. These experiences have strengthened my appreciation for our diverse community and the importance of helping others succeed.

What It Is (Cassandra from Kentucky): Behind the overgrown grass is what affordable housing looks like in our city. When this photo was taken, this apartment complex had 48 active housing code violations. The long grass, which hides ticks and snakes, was the least of the tenants' worries. Multiple units are condemned, but families have nowhere else to go, trapped by a fear of landlord retribution and eviction if they report crime or code violations. What is, is not what it should be.

What It Is (Handy from Nebraska): Following the loss of thousands of jobs, Lexington has faced challenges and uncertainty. Yet the Lexington soccer team’s journey to the state finals brought the community together in support.

Although the outcome was not what we hoped for, the experience showed the strength, unity, and resilience of Lexington. Even during difficult times, our community continues to stand together.
 

What It Can Be (Cassandra from Kentucky): Designed to welcome people of all nationalities and languages, this multilingual entrance sign is part of a community project supported by the Trust for Public Land’s & Lexington Park Equity Accelerator program. This sign and picture of it stand as a vibrant reminder that our community is a home for everyone—and a glimpse into a future where Lexington works together to provide equitable, safe housing and public spaces for all. This is what should be.

What It Can Be (Handy from Nebraska): These railroad tracks represent what could be for Lexington. Just as the railroad once helped create economic growth, jobs, and stability, these tracks symbolize future possibilities still ahead.

Located along Interstate 80 and connected by both rail and roadway, Lexington is positioned for continued growth. This image represents progress, stability, connection and the potential for new opportunities.

Selfie: This is me at Wadsworth Pond in Great Falls, Montana. I lived here a few years before I found the pond and connected with it right away. It reminds me of the little ponds where I grew up fishing as a kid. Now I am part of a community group working to make improvements to the park surrounding it.

Selfie: At Great Falls National Park with my dog, Elsa. I love the outdoors because it brings out the best in people. Away from stress and routine, nature creates space for clarity, connection, and a truer version of who we are—this is where I feel most like myself. Sharing this space with Elsa deepens that connection—she experiences nature with pure presence and joy, reminding me to slow down, be attentive, and fully engage with the moment.

What It Is (Tracy from Montana): This image shows one of our reservoirs that supplies water for irrigation. It was drawn down to record low levels due to drought, and it likely won't fill completely this spring, which means irrigation water supplies will be short again this growing season.

What It Is (Emily from Virginia): Unequal access. Metaphorically, a gate like this does more than protect—it separates. It draws a line between those who are welcomed in and those who remain outside, looking through. Ornate, beautiful, and imposing, it suggests that what lies beyond is reserved, private, and not meant for everyone. This image reflects a broader reality: access is not always equal. Opportunities for space, quiet movement, and connection with nature can be limited by invisible barriers—wealth, location, and privilege. The gate becomes a symbol not just of exclusion, but of awareness. It asks us to consider what is closed off, and what should be open.

What It Can Be (Tracy from Montana): One spot of positivity is how local groups are approaching the drought and looking for innovative solutions. Where municipal water supplies are short and water use is restricted, these barrels will be converted into rain barrels, for collecting precipitation for use in gardens and yards.

What It Can Be (Emily from Virginia): Access creates connection, openness, and shared experience. People of different ages, races, and backgrounds share the same space, move freely, and experience the same sense of calm, health, and belonging.

Selfie: This selfie was taken during my first assignment as a photo intern for the Miami Herald. It is especially meaningful because I was able to take a photo with the Miami Marlins mascot at the event. Before joining the Herald, I worked as a photo intern with the Miami Marlins, so this moment connected two experiences that have played an important role in my growth as a photojournalist.

Selfie: The Frozen Elephant features an iconic life size pink elephant that brings a smile to my face every time I drive by. My family loves to stop by for an iced coffee or dirty soda when we are celebrating the end of the school year or even buying a new car! I love the variety of choices from snow cones to dole whip!

What It Is (Marra from Florida): This photo shows a person standing alone in a busy mall, focused on his phone while people move around him in a blur. The long-exposure effect emphasizes isolation despite being surrounded by others. It represents how social media and constant phone use can disconnect people from their surroundings, creating feelings of loneliness and separation even in crowded public spaces.

What It Is (Britt from Oklahoma): Driving around Miami reveals many dilapidated homes that are no longer habitable. Seeing dreams and futures that are now boarded up feels haunting with memories of what once were. Citizens of the city deplete their savings and their energy fighting to live the American dream in the middle of the U.S. while their hopes float away with the floods.

What It Can Be (Marra from Florida): This double-exposure portrait blends a person with greenery and the city around them, representing a healthier balance between technology and real-world experiences. Rather than being consumed by social media, the image suggests connection—to nature, community, and one's surroundings. It envisions a future where technology supports meaningful engagement without replacing human interaction, presence, and personal wellbeing.

What It Can Be (Britt from Oklahoma): Dreaming of what could be is one of my favorite pastimes. Driving up to a house that feels like a home; where you can lay your head on a pillow and having peace that comes from removing stress of knowing your most basic need of shelter is met. I believe most people aren’t dreaming of a million-dollar penthouse in the sky or a four-car garage, just a haven from storms that life keeps bringing.

Selfie: I grew up on this farm near Burlington, Iowa. My dad started this Angus herd over 70 years ago. Upon the passing of my parents, my brother, sister, and I inherited the farm. As of March 18, I am now the sole owner of the farm.

Selfie: This photo was taken at the Burlington waterfront (specifically Perkins Pier), a park I visited every time I was in the city while looking for an apartment. Now, I ride my bike there regularly to watch the sunset! (Note: taken in the summer—it has been freezing rain this week, not great selfie weather).

What It Is (Monica from Iowa): Burlington, Iowa, is located on the Mississippi River. There is a great deal of natural beauty in our area. Unfortunately, many people are so occupied with their phones, they miss out on the activities, beauty, and faces around them. This picture is of a young teen on her phone rather than noticing the natural beauty that surrounds her.

What It Is (Paul from Vermont): This image focuses on an ongoing story: during renovations in 2020, Burlington High School was found to have dangerous levels of PCBs in the air and soil. In a rush to protect student safety and wellbeing, the school district opened a temporary high school in a vacant Macy’s department store. While students are safe (with local police featured driving by), having a space designed specifically for education would provide a more natural environment for students to thrive. It can also act as a snapshot of how towns across the country are coping with outdated infrastructure.

What It Can Be (Monica from Iowa): This photo depicts a phone that has been left on a park bench. The owner has decided to live in the moment, chat with friends face-to-face, and to be an active teen without being tied to the phone.

What It Can Be (Paul from Vermont):​ The good news? The old building was demolished, and a state-of-the-art high school campus has been in the works for years. The official "move-in-ready" date is July 10th, making 2026 the last year of a temporary high school, sending new and returning students to a stunning new building. This photo shows the work-in-progress state, and while there are finishing touches to be made, it shows how the story of an unsafe environment and a break from normalcy is ending in a revitalized space. This also exemplifies how safety in a community rarely comes down to individuals alone. That change often requires the involvement of residents, local leaders, and municipal support for the greatest impact.