We've been on a quest to create a trustworthy online space where communities can thrive together. Our platform has been evolving through deep engagement with hundreds of communities -- here in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, across the United States (especially post-industrial mid-America) and with friends in Africa and Latin America.

When this journey began, my mind was focused on exploring new models for community interaction—imagining how we could connect the vast creativity and knowledge embedded within grassroots communities to shape the future.

What I didn’t expect, but what I’ve learned from our friends near and far, is the central role history plays in our work together. Wherever I’ve gone, the moment we begin to envision where we’re headed, our partners speak of where they’ve come from—whose shoulders they’re standing on, who built and dreamed, who struggled for us to stand here today. They speak of the forces of colonialism and oppression that blocked freedom, of what was lost and overcome, and of the legacies that were built.

Through this, we've learned that we cannot truly appreciate our present capacities or look forward to the future until we first name and understand our past. What do our histories hold? How did our ancestors shape the world around them? Where did we cause harm? Where did we create thriving? It takes courage and integrity and an honest heart to face this truth—acknowledging the real pain and liberating power in our stories.

We live in a time when simply wanting to study our past from multiple perspectives is under attack. At the same time, grassroots communities hold deep stores of historical resources waiting to be organized, connected and shared. By surfacing knowledge hidden in local history archives, church basements, neighborhood associations, libraries, community colleges, the file cabinets of historical enthusiasts, and more, we have the opportunity to preserve and teach history with integrity. We don’t need to wait for leaders and policies to change; we can start now.