Find the cause, that’s the solution

I'm sickly exhausted at the news of another horrific shooting of our children.

Today, I have to do more. I hope this community feels the same.

If you are a parent, a friend, a neighbor, a superintendent of schools in Linn, Iowa, Benton or Johnson counties, or a principal, or a teacher or staff person in a school, a student - we each need to do more.

There are steps we can do to increase our capacity as communities to care for one another. The cause of these violent expressions is disconnect.

Sandy Hook Promise has a program called 'Start with Hello” that does one simple thing - it makes sure no one eats alone. And there is another program, 'Say Something,” that helps us recognize the signs of a potential threat, and teaches us how to speak up.

The solution to preventing people from such violence is to have a human connection with your classmates, neighbors, teachers, community. These are free programs. They are created to help rebuild our communities.

I am a Sandy Hook Promise Leader. If you are interested in bringing one of these programs to your school, I will help you.

You can contact Sandy Hook at programs@sandyhookpromise.org, but if you feel you need support to do so, contact me at melisathenrys@gmail.com.

Gun violence is a systemic issue. One often feels helpless to bring about change. But let us each do one thing toward a solution. Let us never say we wish we had done more.

Melissa Abel

Homestead