This year has been unlike any other in our tenures as alumni, not to mention our tenures as human beings. When last I wrote, we were in the initial throes of a global pandemic that had shut down most of the globe, isolated so many of us to our respective homes, and truly redefined what it is to be a society in a changing world. In the months since, horrifying events across the United States have forced American (and global) society to address its effects on many of the individuals that make up the very fabric of our nation.

I have a few updates to include in this column, but I want to first applaud the many ’96s who have made their voices heard in taking a strong stand against racism, made loud statements against hierarchical structures that continue to persecute specific members of our society, and who have fully asserted that Black Lives Matter. I have received or seen so many updates of classmates who have protested, who have affected change within their businesses and communities, or who have simply made the statement aloud that inherently racist structures must be removed from our society once and for all—I simply can’t do them all justice. Thank you all for your powerful messages and please continue to let your voices be heard. The world is listening.

With all the Covid-specific updates in the last column, I was unable to include that our own Shakari (Cameron) Byerly had published a coauthored article titled “More than Spare Change: A Case Study of Contact and Voter Support for the Homeless in Los Angeles County, California” in Urban Affairs, a peer-reviewed journal. She and her husband, Rodrego Byerly ’98, are founders and owners of Evitarus, a Los Angeles-based public opinion research and public policy consulting firm that delivers actionable strategic advice and data to public policy, political, and corporate decision-makers. Their firm had served as one of the pollsters for U.S Sen. Kamala Harris’ presidential run. “Our two local candidates this cycle, Los Angeles County supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and California State Senate budget chair Holly Mitchell, won their primaries—so it’s on to the general election! And last year we provided the research to support the legalization of recreational cannabis use in Illinois, which included a first-in-the-nation proposal to set aside a portion of the resulting tax revenue for communities disproportionately affected by mass incarceration.” The nation and our political leaders truly need their consultative services perhaps now more than ever, so I truly hope Evitarus is called on more in the weeks and months ahead!

I do also want to extend congratulations to David Kasregis, as he and his now-wife, Sara, were wed in June! Further congrats to Susie (Brown) Sax on the nomination for her album, Under the Surface, for an Independent Music Award for best folk singer-songwriter album! I also want to congratulate Holly Parker, who, after leaving her role a year ago as associate director at the University of New England North to work in its provost’s office, now returns as the interim director! She will be working and collaborating with people throughout the North Atlantic region to “support resilient communities, healthy environments, and thriving economies in Maine and elsewhere throughout the region.”

Everyone please stay safe and be good to each other.

—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org