Message From the Chair

The Standard of Character in the Arena

We live in a time when the noise from the sidelines has never been louder. From the comfort of social media, it’s easy to toss out opinions and assign blame, but it’s an entirely different matter to step into the arena and do the work of building a community. On a national scale, I can’t remember a time in my life when our country has felt this divided, nor a time when we have seen such a visible decline in the dignity, respect and core values on which our country was founded.

Everywhere we look, we see the effects of this division. In many corners of our political landscape, there is a shift toward extreme bias and closed-minded thinking — making decisions based on what serves a narrow agenda rather than what’s better for the whole. While we’re fortunate to have many dedicated public servants who work tirelessly for our city, we must remain vigilant. Holding our elected leaders to a higher standard, and ensuring they truly live by their oath to represent a “we the people” mentality, has quite literally never been more important.

However, holding others accountable is only one part of the equation. The more difficult, self-reflective question for each of us must be: How am I personally contributing to the betterment of my city?

While those we elect have taken a formal oath to lead, I believe our daily lease on life should carry a similar weight of responsibility. True leadership is not about a title or a position; it is about influence. We are all leaders because we all have influence over those within our sphere. A better world is, quite simply, a collection of better individuals. If we want a stronger Sioux Falls, it requires an individual commitment to excellence that matches the high expectations we place on those in office.

As we celebrate our ninth successful Forward Sioux Falls campaign, the potential for our economic growth is limitless. But as we grow, the character of who we become in the process is crucial. We have a historic opportunity to elevate our commitment to one another — to become a beacon community that truly cares for everyone who calls Sioux Falls home.

I remain deeply optimistic because I believe in the quality of the people who call this city home. But I am not naive enough to believe that excellence just happens; the natural human condition tends toward drift, not growth. Let this be our moment — our line in the sand — when we choose to move from the sidelines into the process.

That participation starts by being informed on the issues, showing up to vote on June 2 and remaining willing to engage with those we disagree with in a spirit of civility. When we commit to becoming the next best version of ourselves, our future together is truly limitless.