2020 resolution: Build coalitions to create positive change

One of my resolutions for 2020 is to continue working with others to try to build coalitions to move our world in a positive direction. I've been involved for over a decade with the Corridor Conservation Coalition, an umbrella group made up of many local environmental organizations. Among other things, this group gave birth to EcoFest 10 years ago. The idea of this Earth Day festival was for our individual organizations to work together to get something big done, and to stop 'preaching to the choir”.

I am also involved with Amnesty International, and through their 'End Gun Violence” campaign, I worked in 2019 to build a similar coalition of groups who care about gun violence issues. This coalition included folks from Mom's Demand Action, Iowans for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, and the SET Task Force- as well as individuals like Representative Art Staed, and Police Chief Wayne Jerman. We went in and talked to the staff people in the offices of our Senators and Representatives, as well as The Gazette's Editorial Board- and we put on a concert at CSPS to highlight our concerns about gun violence in our community and in the country as a whole.

There is much more work to be done in both of these areas, and I encourage all of you to pick a cause that YOU care about and find some like-minded folks and get out there and try to move the world in the right directions.

Mike Wyrick is a community volunteer.