Look for the helpers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Fred Rogers

When I left my position as editor of the Headlight-Herald in late 2018, a fellow columnist and friend wanted to meet up to give me and Katie a gift – a pair of sky-blue cardigans. I had never been gifted a cardigan before and thought it was a strange gift to give an outgoing newspaper editor.

He told me it was because, to him, I had evoked Fred Rogers in my weekly column.

Now I did not grow up in a PBS household, unfortunately, and missed out on the joys of Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, and The Magic School Bus. I was glued to the Disney Channel (more specifically: the wonders of Toon Disney, but that’s a rabbit hole for another time) or my Super Nintendo, so I wasn’t privy to the peaceful, wise, empathetic man gracing televisions across the country until my teens, by which point diving into the world of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood would have been a social atomic bomb. So, I kept him at bay.

In the years since receiving my cardigan, however, I have read and learned more about Fred Rogers and have grown to revere him and his work. Katie and I recently returned home from a cross-continental road trip that took us as far east as Nova Scotia, as far south as Florida, and as far out as an alley full of wild art in Mississippi; while on this road trip, we stumbled upon Pittsburgh (also known as the “Paris of Appalachia” and my favorite city nickname ever), where Mr. Rogers Neighborhood filmed and it is difficult to wander around that city of yellow bridges without spotting murals of him or quotes by the man himself.  

Katie and I made the pilgrimage to the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue, where a massive bronze statue of Mr. Rogers sits mere feet from the convergence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers. It’s beautiful. While standing in the shadow of the statue, his song “The Clown in Me” started playing over hidden speakers in the archway. It’s about when you’re anxious, uncomfortable, or afraid, to let a different side of your personality out and when you’re comfortable and surrounded by people who like you for who you are, you’re able to put that persona aside and be authentically yourself. I had never heard that song until that moment and the powerful lyrics that seemed catered to my own lived experience caught me off-guard and overwhelmed me with emotion. I felt seen by a person whom I’ve never met nor had any great impact on my childhood. But as I stood there, I felt like he was talking directly to me. I can only imagine how many thousands and thousands of others feel exactly the same about any number of work Mr. Rogers created in his lifetime.

The more I discover about Fred Rogers, the more honored I am to have reminded someone in this community of that influential and kind human being.

All this to say, as the campaigns for various school boards in Tillamook County get underway, to remind people of Fred Rogers’ quote: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” While this is directed towards children, I hope the community keeps this in mind as our voters decide who to install on our school boards. Please, look for the helpers and put them in positions to truly help our most vulnerable: our children. We need helpers on our school boards that can create policy that supports our educators, safeguards students, and creates a better environment for all to thrive.   

I have heard disturbing anecdotes since entering the school board race last month about how certain people are “the enemy of the school district” and have seen absolute vitriol and hatred pointed towards school board candidates who, in my opinion, are the helpers. When I hear current Tillamook School Board member and candidate Amanda Ferrat speak, I know she is someone who has the knowledge, experience, and passion to create policy and make decisions for the betterment of everyone with a touchpoint in Tillamook School District. It breaks my heart and infuriates me a loud minority in our community spew hatred about her and only proves Amanda is a helper and those attacking her are not.

Amanda Ferrat is a helper.

Brandon Affolter is a helper.

In the Nestucca School Board race, Irene Barajas is a helper.

I’d like to believe I, too, am a helper.

We exist in a society where many of us are strapped for time, energy, or both and find it difficult to be a helper – and that’s ok, it is something to strive for – but in the meantime, please keep Mr. Rogers in mind and also look for the helpers in our community.

Cardigan helpful but not required.