Look, we get it. The news cycle is bleak. World and national events can make you want to crawl under your weighted blanket and emerge sometime around 2028. But here’s the thing: while you can’t single-handedly solve everything happening out there, you can absolutely influence what happens right here in Fremont. That matters more than you might think.
The Fremont Neighborhood Council is hosting their first meeting of 2026 next Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Doric Lodge (619 N. 36th St.). The council is rolling out the welcome mat for anyone who’s ever thought, “Huh, I wonder who decides these things around here?” Spoiler: it could be you.
Think global, act local isn’t just a bumper sticker, it’s actually decent life advice. This meeting is designed to help you get grounded in your own community, literally. You’ll meet your neighbors (yes, the ones you avoid eye contact with), discuss what you want Fremont to be, and maybe even discover that participating in democracy at the hyper-local level is weirdly… empowering?
The agenda starts with a business meeting at 6:15 p.m. for the curious and those interested in joining the board, then the official meeting kicks off at 7 p.m. After that, it’s all about you: who you are in Fremont, what you envision for the neighborhood, and brainstorming community events that don’t involve doomscrolling.
Register at: https://luma.com/xs9xtdf3
The FNC has tackled housing, parks, libraries, even the zoo. They’ve brought in councilmembers and state reps. But mostly, they’re just Fremont folks trying to make our neighborhood a better place to live.
Disclosure: The author is a member of the Fremont Neighborhood Council board.