This blog is actually accomplishing two things. First of all, obviously, it is answering a question from a fan.
Secondly, however, I decided to film this while working in downtown Phoenix yesterday. I happened to walk by this lot, which has a very interesting story behind it, and I decided to show it to you. It's a gardening project sponsored by Intel, and co-spearheaded by friend Sean Sweat as well as Kenny Barrett.
I do my best to be positive, even in confrontations, but I have to tell you, sometimes living in Arizona, especially advocating for women's health, makes that so very hard. I cannot tell you how many times someone visits from out of state and the first thing they want to talk about is our inflammatory politics. The same thing happens when I travel and someone learns I am from Arizona. It makes me sad that a few loud people have given all of us labels that stick but do not fit.
The truth is, the loudest people, the ones who are the most savvy about getting their voice into the media, are few. The real Arizonans are the ones like Sean and Kenny, who coordinate volunteers to grow sunflowers in this urban garden plot. Most of them are so busy doing great things that they aren't lighting their hair on fire in order to get media time.
So I thought, whenever I can, I would film my videos in ways that showcase some of the wonderful things happening in Arizona that have a tendency to get pushed off stage on behalf of grandstanding.
If you'd like to learn more about Valley of the Sunflowers, please visit their Facebook page.
Oh, BTW, Sean, I did not realize until I got home that I did not set the frame to edit out that huge block of concrete…I am a much better writer than videographer!