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The race is not given to the swift nor the strong, but to the one that endures to the end.
I am writing this open letter from my heart to encourage all residents to consider the possibilities of what we as a city and community could be! Each day and every challenge should be met with optimism and provides each of us an opportunity to change, to grow and to improve upon that which has been the foundation.
Growing up in this community, for me was the epic center of possibilities. It had historically been a community of unity, togetherness, resourcefulness and resiliency. Hailed “The Mecca of Broward County” with what seemed to have been a place of wealth, knowledge, and a mindset to want to see everyone win and thrive.
This community to me never seemed blighted. I always felt comfort in knowing who my neighbors were and that at the core of our culture we were like family. I never took for granted that sense of pride and belonging, so much so after graduating there was no place I wanted to be than back home. To be honest, I never knew that things had changed so drastically the 7 years I was away at college. It was only once I returned home permanently, in 2005, that I really felt the depths of the changes. I often questioned myself as to what could have caused such a drastic shift in the community that I had always bragged about at college?
I must admit at first things seem to be relatively the same on the surface. I saw much of the same individuals I had always known growing up. At that time, I still had a very large family that still resided here and I had began to ask questions, get involved, and re-acclimated within the community, now known as the City of West Park. I had just graduated from the highest of 7 hills at Florida A&M University, and had moved back home permanently, purchasing a home not far from my family home. This was an exciting time for me as a young adult and mother. My mindset was to give back to the very community that had instilled so many values within me. I was intrigued and excited that we were now a city, I trusted that we as a community had to be in good hands because the majority of individuals that were elected were either persons that I knew or looked up to.
I would say the first five years being home things were not bad, but they were drastically different. The community that I knew was fading. Within the first two years of newly purchasing my first home the market was upside down, and we as a country were headed into a recession. I started noticing that several of the familiar faces were leaving at a high rate. Either, losing their homes, lack of jobs to sustain themselves or people just looking for a better quality of life. I too was impacted by the recession, which caused me to temporarily relocate, when I returned I noticed that several community members were no longer in the community.
I finally became your elected official in 2022. At this point I was overjoyed to finally have a seat at the table and now have an opportunity to put the community first! I have stayed committed and faithful in my service. I have been throughout the community/city listening to residents and each concern I have brought to the Commission dais to be addressed, to be considered, and to be resolved. The road remains uncertain and certainly at this point has its challenges which, at times, the task feels daunting. Yet, still the quest continues to put and keep the Community First.
Many have been very supportive and along with me on this journey! I want to earnestly thank each and everyone that believes in me and continues to support me! There is so much work to do and I need your assistance! I am saddened to report that there is still much progress to be made. I need for those that have raised concerns and really desire to have a real sense of Community to join me in this quest. We have to stand together on issues we all can mutually agree on and gain at least an understanding on things we don’t! Lend your voice because let’s face it – there would be no city without its people in the community! Community laid the foundation of our city. We cannot forget where we came from and we must work together to create a future we can all be proud of.
You and your input and participation is vital to have initiatives we want in our community, to determine how we desire our city to look, feel and be!
What do we want to be known for? Are we still the Mecca of Broward County? Or has that vision long faded away? It is all up to us, the people of this community/city to decide!
I know that we as a community/city can be anything we desire it to be! Our community is ever changing and we have to ensure our future is sustainable and bright. My goals are simple and achievable. My objective is to provide and seek transparency, be accountable, an hold accountability, engage with each other and collaborate, help each other, be good neighbors and stewards, share ideals, create viable programs and initiatives to uplift and propel the people/businesses of the community forward, and to keep the community first in decision making!
If you would, I am asking you to also imagine the possibilities of what we could be and let’s work towards those things together!
Please don’t hesitate to email me or call, I want to hear from you! Let’s explore the possibilities together. Email me at: ktouchstone@cityofwestpark.org. #communityfirst
