These past months in American have been rough.

We are divided, hurt, and angry. What has struck me the most is how divided we are, what an unemphatic state we are in. So as I sat down and thought about what I could do, I came up with the Purple State Challenge. I’ve decided to reach out and pop some of these bubbles we keep hearing about and hopefully I can blur the lines a little bit between the red and blue states.

There are 52 states (plus a district and territory) and there are 52 weeks in a year. In this challenge I will find, write about, and donate to 52 local organizations across America. The goal is to find an organization helping with a local issue, let people know that I care about their issues, and try to help. I want to acknowledge why people are hurt and angry, I want to listen. It’s going to take a lot of research, hopefully you can help, but I think it’s going to be an incredibly rewarding journey. I already know and support wonderful local to me and national organizations but it’s time to pop my California bubble and see how I can help everywhere.

I hope you’ll join me. I need input from you! Tell me what means the most to you locally. Tell me about the superhero organizations that I know are out there. Comment and follow along. I’ll be starting a monthly newsletter to track my process through the Purple State Challenge.