Take Care of Each Other

When Life Happens, You Shouldn’t Be On Your Own

My grandfather died when my mom was just nine years old. That left my grandmother, Pauline Valentine, to raise her kids on her own.

She worked hard. She carried the weight of her family for years. She didn’t ask for much.

When she finally retired, it wasn’t because she had a big savings account.

It was because of Social Security.

That monthly check gave her stability. It gave her rest. It gave her dignity.

I’ve seen that same kind of difference in other moments too.

When Vanessa and I had young kids, we found a way to make it work so she could stay home with them. She built a small business. We adjusted. We figured it out.

But the truth is, not everyone can do that.

And they shouldn’t have to.

Because life doesn’t just happen on a schedule.

People get sick. Parents get older. Babies are born. Emergencies hit.

And right now, too many families are left to figure it out on their own.

I’m running for Congress because I believe we should take care of each other when life gets hard.

That’s what Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are about.

They make sure seniors can live with stability. They help people get care without going broke. They support families when they need it most.

And paid leave is part of that same promise.

Because no one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for someone they love. Or their own health.

Right now, too many people do.

They go back to work too soon after having a child.They skip medical care because they can’t afford the time off.They try to hold everything together while one crisis pulls it all apart.

That’s not a system that supports families. It’s a system that expects people to carry more than they should have to carry alone.

Here’s what needs to change:

• We must protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and keep them strong

• We need to strengthen them so they meet the needs of today’s families

• And we need paid family and medical leave for every worker

These aren’t just programs.

They’re how we make sure people aren’t left behind when life gets hard.

As a pastor, I’ve been with people in hospital rooms, in living rooms, and at gravesides. I’ve seen how quickly things can change. I’ve seen how much it matters to have support in those moments.

When people have that support, families stay stable. Health improves. People can focus on healing instead of just surviving.

When they don’t, everything gets harder.

We say we value family.

This is what that looks like.

It looks like making sure people can retire with dignity. It looks like making sure people can get care without going broke. And it looks like making sure people have the time they need to care for each other.

Because no one should be left on their own when life happens.

And the strength of a community is measured by how we show up in those moments.