I've been stationed in Texas for a while now, but Volusia County is never far from my mind. It's where I grew up, where I learned what community means, and where I plan to return when my service is complete. And when I think about the future — not just mine, but the future of the place I call home — I keep coming back to one idea: strong communities don't happen by accident. They're built.
What Makes a Community Strong
I've lived in a few different places since joining the military, and I've noticed something: the strongest communities aren't necessarily the wealthiest or the most well-known. They're the ones where people actually know each other. Where neighbors look out for one another. Where there's a shared sense of pride and responsibility.
In Volusia County, I saw that growing up. Friday night football games where the whole town showed up. Local businesses that sponsored youth sports teams. Churches and civic groups that organized food drives and disaster relief without being asked. That's the stuff that holds a community together — not government programs or corporate investment, but people choosing to invest in each other.
The Challenges We Face
I'm not naive enough to think that everything is perfect. Like communities across Florida and across the country, Volusia County faces real challenges:
Economic opportunity. Too many young people feel like they have to leave home to find good jobs. We need to create pathways — through trade programs, small business support, and smart development — that let people build careers where they grew up.
Education. Our schools need support, not just funding, but genuine community involvement. Mentorship programs, tutoring initiatives, career days — these things make a real difference in a kid's trajectory.
Connection. In the age of screens and social media, it's paradoxically easier than ever to feel disconnected from the people around you. We need more opportunities for real, face-to-face interaction — community events, volunteer projects, neighborhood gatherings.
What I Believe
I believe that the solutions to most of our problems aren't going to come from Washington. They're going to come from us — from the ground up. When a local business mentors a high school student, that's community building. When a veteran coaches a little league team, that's community building. When neighbors come together to clean up a park or organize a block party, that's community building.
It's not glamorous. It doesn't make headlines. But it's the most important work there is.
Looking Forward
When I come home to Volusia County, I want to be part of that work. I want to help build something that lasts — not for recognition, but because it's the right thing to do. Because the communities that raised us deserve people who are willing to invest back into them.
Florida is growing. Volusia County is changing. That can be a good thing — if we're intentional about the kind of community we want to be. And that takes all of us showing up, getting involved, and caring enough to do the hard work.
Strong communities aren't built by a few people at the top. They're built by a lot of people in the middle — doing small things with great purpose. That's the kind of community I want to help build.