We think of ourselves as a diverse and welcoming community, but not everyone feels welcome here. The goal for the Select Board should be to strive continuously to establish a welcoming culture where everyone feels safe, a community with inclusive support for diversity and where every voice is heard. One way to do that is to encourage Lexington residents to work together on common goals we all share. 

Eleven years ago a small group of friends decided to form the Lexington interfaith garden. Our goal was to grow healthy food for our good neighbors who were struggling to put food on the table. Each year over 400 volunteers from 14 faith communities, students from our schools, girls scouts, boy scouts, and people not associated with any faith community work side by side in the garden towards a common goal. We have delivered over 16,000 pounds of healthy, fresh produce to the Lexington food pantry.  But perhaps more importantly, our goal was to grow strong, vibrant community relationships, across cultures, across generations, to bring the people of Lexington together and form a stronger community by working on common goals. And in that goal, we have succeeded, every Tuesday and Saturday new friendships are made, and strong and lasting bonds are forged.