Letter to the editor: Making progress

To the editor:

Justice Matters has been the greatest catalyst for positive change that I have witnessed in almost 25 years of community service here in Lawrence.

Affordable housing has gone from a two-decade discussion to true action, planning and now identifying funding. We look to and have effectively partnered with the service providers, city commissioners, staff and advisory board and hope to network with Realtors, builders, The Chamber, KU and the community at large. I expect much more is to come, and I expect that Justice Matters will help to lead to greater community.

It is probably impossible to enact change in systems without some discomfort, blowback and mistakes along the way. That doesn’t change the fact that essential issues exist and need to be addressed. I believe that the initiatives that Justice Matters has chosen to identify — inadequate mental health services, addressing childhood trauma, alternatives to incarceration, affordable housing and racism — are important to all of us, even if we don’t personally suffer from these injustices. Many people do. We should do our part to participate in positive change for the common good, especially for the needs of those who suffer.