September 2020 Georgetowner Article

It has been said that autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.

As we let go of a tumultuous, pandemic summer in Georgetown, there is a sense of resilience, renewal and purpose in our community. Business owners are determined to operate through the “new normal.” Parents are dedicated to making sure their children’s education is as productive as possible. And the volunteers and board members of the Citizens Association of Georgetown are acting with terrific intention and generosity on behalf of our community.

There is something special about getting involved in your community – for example, through volunteerism – during these difficult times. It’s easy to feel helpless or even hopeless as COVID continues to threaten life and livelihoods; I encourage everyone in our community to explore the comfort and inspiration that comes from giving back.

Whether you choose to help your neighbors through contributions (of time and/or dollars) to CAG, your house of worship, or any number of wonderful nonprofits operating in D.C., I think you will see that getting involved in your community is an incomparable pandemic mood booster!

Fall will be a season of harvest for CAG, as our volunteers’ reduced summer travel created an opportunity for tremendous progress on work ranging from community safety to Gingko trees! We are looking forward to launching a new, modernized website soon, and to welcoming new staff members as we bid farewell to our executive director, Leslie Maysak. Like so many other parents in our community, Leslie is shifting her attention to the demands of helping her two high school students with the challenges of remote learning. Thank you for being an ambassador for CAG, Leslie!

My friends, we are all part of a special, historic community – and we are living through a complex chapter of history right now.  Our “new normal” won’t be permanent, but let’s make sure we can be proud of how we handled this difficult time: Together. #georgetowntogether