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Thankfully, there are enough diverse people in Franklin and Southampton County who want to tell a different and better story about life in this region. They want to create ways for residents to unite, not be divided by inequalities or injustices. They also seek to make a positive impact in their neighborhoods and Western Tidewater as a whole. Such are the motivations of the newly formed organization, “Changing the Narrative.”

One way in the membership can create unity is through children — offering them activities that can engage them mentally, athletically and recreationally.

An example is offering activities and events in which the aforementioned grown-ups, including parents, can guide children.

Most recently, nearly a dozen youngsters got to put together pre-fabricated wooden pieces that form birdhouses. Each child was paired with an adult, sometimes two, and then instructions were read and the building began. To the youth, it was probably a good way to spend a Saturday morning. To the adults, it was likely a worthy investment of their time and energy.

We think that “Changing the Narrative” is worthy not merely of polite applause, but enthusiastic support. Our hope is that other adults will seek to be included in making the story of Western Tidewater one that everyone will want to read and live in.