A Word from the Editor

Readers,

On December 23rd, 2024, I lost a dear friend of mine, Valerie Goldstein. She was a fellow teacher and writer, and she spent her young adult life being a voice for change. Valerie had organized protests, and her dream was to get into educational policy. When I heard the news of her death, I was grief-stricken. She was so full of life and happiness, and I thought that the world had lost another good one. As the days passed, I got to see how many people were positively impacted by just knowing Valerie. Her students missed her and learned a lot from her, her coworkers spoke of how much of a light she was, and my friends and I would sit and reminisce about  how much we treasured our brief friendship with her. Despite the tragedy of her passing, one thing I realized was that though Valerie was gone, we could continue the work. We could move those around us and even join in the fight for issues we care about. She was more than just my friend. Valerie was an inspiration.

I am reminded of Valerie’s influence and the circle of life when I read the stories, poems, and pieces that are in this issue. We might have heard it before, but there’s something so remarkable about an artist deciding to create art during our time in history where everything feels heavy. I know I am not the only one when I say that I worry about democracy, war, separation, human rights, healthcare, and climate change, yet these writers have chosen to create art.

My hope is that while you read through these pieces, you are moved. Whether it is a piece about a new life, the natural world around us, or the story behind an author’s courageous work, I challenge you to find inspiration and shape the world around you.

Thank you for choosing to do the work with us.

Dariana