Families across Key Biscayne will gather this week for the Holidays. Some will celebrate by mixing American and Cuban-style celebrations, others will follow European traditions, prepare South American asados or follow their own special holiday customs.
Piles of wrapping paper will fill Friday’s trash bins and novelty gadgets might soon end up in a drawer. But what if this year’s gifts could build something more lasting? A donation to a local advocacy group can fuel a scholarship or enhance a community program. A gift to It Takes a Village or the Community Garden can spark new insights and connections. An annual pass to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park creates 365 days of sunset walks and morning jogs. Theater tickets, cooking classes, sailing lessons: these create memories, not waste in our landfills.
This week offers something else precious: time for conversation. That family member whose politics make you crazy? They’re still family. The neighbor you’ve been avoiding since November’s argument? They still live next door. Community and democracy both work when we can disagree without becoming enemies.
Use these gathering days wisely. Ask your teenagers what bothers them about school policies. Listen to your grandfather’s stories about civic participation in his homeland. Discuss which local project your family could tackle together in 2026. Should you volunteer to tutor? Take up singing lessons or join a running club? Start attending village council meetings?
Critical thinking and consensus building are cultivated when we come together for conversation and meals. The best gift you can give your family, your children, your elders, your neighbors and your democracy is engagement. Enjoyable Holidays to you all!
For more information on civic engagement and everything you need to know about voting in Miami go to GoVoteMiami.org