I'm a mom of three incredible kids. Like every parent, I want my children to grow up healthy, safe and surrounded by opportunities to become whoever they want to be.
As President and CEO of Connecticut Children's, I also have the privilege of seeing firsthand what it takes to help children thrive. Every day, our teams provide extraordinary care, but we also see the challenges families face beyond our hospital walls.
And it reminds me of something important: Children don't get to vote. But they live with the consequences of the decisions we make.
Decisions about healthcare, education, safety and access to resources shape the opportunities children have and the communities they grow up in. Their voices may not be heard at the ballot box, but their futures are very much at stake.
That's why I believe it's so important that we show up.
And it's why I choose to vote.
When I cast my ballot, I think about my own children, of course. But I also think about the thousands of children and families who count on Connecticut Children's and the kind of future we want to help create for them.
I know we don't all see the world the same way. We bring different experiences, perspectives and opinions to the issues facing our communities. And that's okay.
We can disagree and still respect one another. We can listen, learn and make informed choices based on what matters most to us.
To me, that's what participating in our democracy is all about.
I don't expect one election to solve every challenge, and I certainly don't pretend to have all the answers. But I do believe that when something matters to us, we have a responsibility to pay attention and participate.
As Election Day approaches, I encourage you to learn about the candidates and issues, think about what matters most to you and make a plan to vote if you're eligible.
Who you vote for is your decision. What's important to me is that you have the opportunity to make your voice heard.
Because while our individual choices may be different, I hope there's one thing we can all agree on: Our children deserve a future full of possibility.
And that future is worth showing up for.
Register to vote or check your voter registration