06/19/2026
Many people reached out, that was at the dedication ceremony, and wanted me to share the inspiration and message behind the art piece that I shared at the ceremony. So, here it is:
“Community Layers”
“Like the tree before you, I see every community — including our own — as being shaped by three essential layers. Each one distinct, each one vital, and together capable of creating something truly beautiful.
The layer on the left represents those who serve. The police officers, dispatchers, EMTs, city officials, road crews, and the countless others who quietly maintain the framework of daily life. Without this layer, the rest cannot stand. Without those who protect, maintain, and respond, nothing functions, nothing flourishes, and nothing feels safe. A beautiful community must first have those who are devoted to growing and protecting it.
The layer on the right represents commerce — the businesses and livelihoods woven into the fabric of our community. People need places to work, to gather, to eat, to shop, and to invest in. Without a thriving business community, a place loses its invitation. It loses its identity. Commerce is not simply convenience — it is the pulse that tells the world this is a place worth living in.
The layer in the center represents the people. The residents, the neighbors, the everyday individuals who are held up by every layer around them. A healthy and vibrant community requires people who love where they live, support the businesses around them, honor those who serve them, and choose to invest in one another. The people are the heart of it all.
The ground beneath this tree is nothing more than soil and rock. It is the community rooted within it that transforms ordinary earth into something extraordinary.
Look closely at the rings of a tree. Each one tells a story — a year of drought, a season of fire, a period of hardship, or a time of remarkable growth. Some years were difficult. Some cleared the way for more light. Some left scars that ultimately made the tree stronger. Every ring is a chapter in the life of something greater than itself.
Could you look at the rings of your community and say — I was here. I contributed to this. I helped this community grow during this time?
That is the question this piece asks of all of us.
This ground we stand on is just soil and stone. It is the people, the purpose, and the love poured into it that makes a community worth calling home.”
Thank you all and have a great Father’s Day weekend!
