Good evening, everyone —

As we kick off our August Town Council meeting, I want to begin by thanking you all for staying engaged and present in the life of our town. Whether it's through attending events, tuning into our social channels, or just stopping by Town Hall with a question or idea — your presence matters.

Over the past month, I had the opportunity to attend the National League of Cities Summer Leadership Meeting, where mayors and local leaders from across the country gathered to share strategies, innovations, and solutions. I walked away inspired and filled with actionable insights — particularly around housing affordability, youth engagement, and sustainable infrastructure — areas that directly impact us in Dumfries. We’ll continue exploring how those takeaways can shape our future plans.

I’m also proud to share that Dumfries has been accepted into the Mayor’s Climate Action cohort, where we’re collaborating with cities nationwide to prepare for the environmental challenges ahead. As part of this program, I had the opportunity to present on Dumfries' unique climate resilience efforts — from stormwater management to green infrastructure needs. One of the biggest benefits is that, at the end of the program, we’ll receive a fully developed Climate Action Plan at no cost to the Town — a huge win for our long-term sustainability efforts.

Of course, none of that matters if we’re not addressing what’s impacting our residents today. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the recent heavy rainfall and flooding issues many in our community have endured. To those of you dealing with property damage or unsafe conditions: I see you, and I know how frustrating it can be. This is not just an inconvenience — it’s personal when your home is affected. I want to thank our dedicated Public Works and Town staff who’ve been working long hours in the rain, along with our planning team and developer partners in affected areas who continue seeking long-term solutions. We’re committed to addressing this challenge with urgency and empathy.

On a lighter note — I want to give a huge thank you to our staff, community volunteers, and partners for pulling off not one, but two incredible events recently: the Backpack Giveaway and National Night Out. It was heartwarming to see our neighborhoods come alive with families, laughter, music, and meaningful conversations with public safety. We even had a town-wide motorcade and petting zoo — can’t beat that!

And we’re not done yet! Stay tuned to our social media for the return of our Summer Concerts and Movie Nights — perfect opportunities to make some memories before the season ends.

Lastly, I’m honored to announce that through a partnership between the African American Mayors Association and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Dumfries will be receiving a grant to launch the “Mayor’s Legacy Builders” program.

Legacy Builders is an 8‑week journey designed to help Dumfries residents protect their homes, assets, and loved ones by creating wills, understanding trusts, securing life insurance, and making legacy decisions that last.

We’re aiming for:

• 100+ residents engaged in estate planning education,
• 50+ families completing a will or trust, and
• 25+ residents securing or upgrading their life insurance.

We’ll officially launch with a Kickoff Town Hall on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30 PM.
Stay tuned to all my social channels for more details in the coming weeks.

Let me leave you with this Food for Thought:

“Strong communities aren’t built on perfection — they’re built on participation. The more we engage, the more we grow. And the more we grow, the more we leave behind a legacy worth inheriting.”

Thank you, Dumfries — let’s keep showing the world what it looks like when a small town dreams big.