If we are going to find our way forward together, we have to know each other. We don’t have to agree. In fact, we may actively oppose each other’s goals, especially when the words or actions of some neighbors may hurt other neighbors.

Even as we live in that tension, though, we need to stop dehumanizing each other, and do the hard, essential, sometimes painful and sometimes joyful work of really knowing the people around us. And, yes, we do need to find our way forward together. If we’re not together, it’s not forward.

That’s what I want to say to my neighbors — the people who actually walk and drive past my house. I want them to know that no matter who they are, if their car battery dies, I’ll give them a jump. And when something comes up that is difficult, we can talk about it. So I designed a big banner, 3′ x 8′, had it printed on durable vinyl, and my son and I nailed it to the front of my house on Christmas Eve, 2016. It has led to some great conversations with interesting and diverse people, and I’m glad I’ve gotten to know them.

Then people started to ask where to get a banner of their own, so I made this web site. If you would like to have a banner or yard sign, you can either buy one, or download the art and print your own (at whatever price you choose, including free), or you can order one here and we will ship it to you.

Thank you for taking active steps to create and nourish community, and for starting some conversations that can help lead to healing.

It’s not naive to think you can change the world. It’s naive to think you could possibly be in the world and not change it. Thanks for being a part of a change for the better.

- David LaMotte