Community and Belonging

Summer Concert Series

Grant Park and the Hillview Soccer Field become gathering places for community celebration.

Loneliness is a modern epidemic, quite ironic given the proliferation of social networks. According to the Surgeon General, the mortality impact of social disconnection is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. Yet the antidote all around us. The cheerful parent who greets you in the school drop-off line. The attentive barista who remembers your name and particular coffee order. The acquaintance-becoming-friend that you look forward to chatting with on your regular walks. City council can’t make that magic happen. But it must actively pursue environments and programs that make it more likely.

Diversity is a blessing. Los Altos is endlessly fascinating, where we see different faces, hear different voices, experience different cultures. With diversity comes the challenge of embracing belonging, a challenge that comes with two sides: We want every person who happens to reside here to connect, put down roots, and come to think of Los Altos as their family’s home. And we want every person who chooses to make Los Altos their home to know that they are truly welcome.

The challenges Los Altos faces are real, but we also enjoy great good fortune. Our greatest advantage is our residents, who comprise some of the most thoughtful, creative, innovative, and open-minded people in the world. Representing the best of Los Altos is why I’m excited to join the city council, and make our next chapter even better, together.