text: On America's birthday, it's time to ask: Where do we want to go from here? - Lassen News
  July 1, 2020 Quint Studer, Author, Special to the Times
  Independence Day is here and this year we celebrate our country's 244th birthday. America is in a time of major transition and transformation right now. We are facing a public health crisis, along with challenges in our economy and a powerful social justice movement. Together these events have shaken our nation's foundations. We have no doubt lost a lot during this difficult time. But because birthdays are a time to look back and reflect on what has gone well and what has not, this 4th of July I have been asking the question: Where do we go from here?
  These national conversations have created real action. We are rethinking law enforcement policies and the role of police. We're improving training and doing a better job of holding accountable those who break the rules and/or use excessive force. We're putting funds into other community sources like mental health. These shifts are making us a better nation. My great hope as a community builder is that we will see a groundswell of interest in minority entrepreneurship. We can find creative ways to invest in women and people of color. I regularly see many thriving businesses emerge when we practice economic inclusion on a local level. They add great richness to our communities.
  Quint Studer is the author of "Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America," and founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute.