Recent economic, social and political conditions have highlighted the many divisions and inequities in our communities. In many cases these disparities impact everyday life—for example, the availability of work and sacrifices expected of essential workers; access to broadband and the employment, school and commerce opportunities it provides; and adverse health outcomes for certain demographics as a result of the pandemic, among others. Downtowns have always been the place where the community comes together, whether to celebrate a local festival or homecoming win or to advocate for political change. As the heart of the community, downtown is the hub of government and symbol of a community’s past, present and future. It is the duty of Main Street and other downtown-focused organizations to ensure that downtown remains a place for everyone and that all are welcome, represented and comfortable visiting, engaging with and frequenting our downtown districts. As our populations age, shift and change, a periodic review of organizational structure, activities and the physical form of downtown may be in order for each district to ensure that the district is living up to its goal of being a welcoming place that serves all members of its community.
