Take 1 seemed accurate, but things were missing that mattered in River Forest during 2020. It blended into the rest of the Journal in a sunless way, when I was sure “a year like no other” had cast at least a few rays of light in little-old River Forest.

When I joined the Oak Park Public Library in 2016, I was one of the first library social workers in the United States. My hiring as director of Social Services and Public Safety was also one of the first major changes at the library to come from efforts to “turn outward” — to make intentional choices that ground library work in Oak Park’s shared aspirations. 

On Jan. 6, America’s democracy came under siege. Thousands of armed demonstrators violently surged to breach the sanctity of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. They outnumbered, overwhelmed, and outmaneuvered the security police of the Capitol. 

President Trump has been impeached for the second time.

Many of us are still reeling over the violent mob that descended on our Capitol building, as well as the racist act against Live Café in Oak Park. 

The election for the District 200 board is less than three months away. 

We have to take off our shoes and socks and walk in the dirt of 2020.