To the editor:
On Jan. 20, as Donald J. Trump was about to be sworn in for his second term as president, I felt an overwhelming sense of despair, a feeling I’m sure many of you shared. And I knew that if I stayed home and watched the day’s events unfold on TV, that despair would only deepen. Instead, I took my four-year-old daughter to the Riverdale Y’s annual MLK Jr. Day of Service. We worked alongside many neighbors to provide food to those in need and for a few hours, I completely forgot about Trump, and I didn’t feel so powerless, after all.
In challenging times, despair can be paralyzing, but history and science has shown us that taking action -- no matter how small -- is the most effective antidote. Local volunteering not only tangibly helps those we serve, but it also provides a way for us to reclaim our agency and hope. It connects us to our neighbors, grounds us in shared purpose and reminds us that even in difficult times, we have the power to contribute to something larger than ourselves.
Riverdale is home to many wonderful organizations that are making a real impact and would welcome your support: Bronx Community Board 8, the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, the Riverdale Main Streets Alliance, the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corp. (KRVC), the Kiwanis Club of Riverdale, Riverdale Neighborhood House and so many others. Volunteering for local political groups, such as the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, also provides a way to amplify your voice and help drive meaningful change at the city and state levels and beyond. Even a few hours of volunteering can make a difference—for others and for ourselves.
To anyone feeling the weight of these times, I urge you to join others in our community to create a better Riverdale, one small act of service at a time. And who knows? You might just find that while you’re helping others, you’ll also help yourself and maybe even forget about Trump for a little while.
Ben Jackson is Democratic Party district leader for New York’s 81st assembly district.