Love Letter to Government Workers

Dear Friends,

While there are essential workers and people who contribute across many industries and fields, my thoughts have lately been with those in government and their families who are deeply impacted by current events.

As a City Hall reporter from 2001 to 2004, my respect and appreciation for government workers vastly expanded. I’m the daughter of a career Federal employee, the wife of a retired city government employee, and the friend of countless other public servants. I even had a yearlong, part-time city job overseeing Gaithersburg, Maryland’s Farmer’s Market. I got to work alongside other dedicated team members who brought the community recreational activities and cultural events, including a large-scale book festival.

This is the right time to share a story I published several years ago that celebrates the essential work of public servants. While it’s about local government, it equally applies to the folks who work tirelessly on the Federal level. Please read it here:

LA City Hall is the backdrop following an event celebrating LADOT employees with perfect or excellent attendance records. Credit: LADOT Photo by Christopher Rider

While I’m expressing gratitude for people who work to benefit the public good, I want to give a huge bouquet of thanks to the folks who work at the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC), the panelists who review the applications from arts organizations, and artists like me, and the members of the County government who approve funding to maintain an extraordinarily vibrant arts community. I have just received my fourth award from them and take my responsibility of being a good steward of this funding seriously. Two awards supported me in teaching memoir writing to older adults. The other awards have helped fund my years-long project of writing my first book, Better Late: The Making of a Midlife, First-Time Wife. AHCMC’s efforts help so many other artists and organizations thrive and allow the community to participate in year-round, extraordinary cultural activities. Particularly in the turbulent times we find ourselves, the gift of engaging with art is essential.

Wishing you and your loved ones well,

Laura