“All this division,” Washington, of Fort Dodge, said recently. “It seems as if we are more divided than ever. We are divided with religion, race, and now we are extremely divided with politics.”

“So at the end of the day, before all of this began,” she added. “We were in church together, shopping in the same stores together, our children are in the same schools. We do everything together, and after this we should continue to do everything together regardless of any outcomes politically.”

With that in mind, the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee created the concept of a “Unity in the Community” calendar, featuring local politicians, business leaders, coaches, and educators.

Washington is president of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Messenger Photographer Hans Madsen captures an image of Gwenda Naylor and her mother Mattie Ruth Lewis, both of Fort Dodge, inside The Messenger studio recently. Madsen’s photographs will appear in the Unity in the Community calendar. Sales from the calendar will benefit Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee projects.

“The focus is to highlight the positive things in the community,” Washington said.

Brent Nelson, also a member of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee, said the time is right to address the issue of division.

“We have noticed a lot of division among people, not just in our nation, but also in our own community,” Nelson said.

Nelson is the head coach of the Iowa Central Community College rugby team. That team practices and plays on Crimmins Field in Pleasant Valley.

“I believe, like Sherry believes, that we can fight the division with people that love each other and care about each other,” Nelson said. “No matter what, if they are man or woman, black or white, people that are good are going to win in the end. I really felt Sherry’s heart was in the right place. She felt strongly about fighting against the division in our country and our own community.”

Nelson added, “It mirrors a little bit about what our rugby team is like. We have young men from Iowa, Louisiana, New Zealand, South Africa. We have people from all over. We love that our campus and our team has diversity. That’s something we celebrate. We are Triton nation, and we want to be a part of each other’s lives. That mirrors what the calendar represents with unity.”

Hans Madsen, reporter and chief photographer at The Messenger, volunteered to photograph the people featured in the calendar.

“We are just honored that he is willing to support us in this effort and use his talents,” Washington said.

Jifi Print is printing the calendars.

Madsen said the cause was one he thought would benefit the Fort Dodge community.

“I thought that being able to help a worthwhile project was something that I wanted to do as a way to try to give something to the community of Fort Dodge,” Madsen said. “And try to be amongst those who wish to see a return to a more civil political environment.”

Madsen enjoyed meeting and photographing the people featured in the calendar.

“The process was simply to let them be themselves and to try to catch their personality in the photo without imposing my own will or vision on the images,” Madsen said. “I wanted the pictures to represent who they are. I was basically just a facilitator with a camera.”

Some of the photographs show women politicians posing with their mothers.

“Each of these ladies are just strong, awesome women,” Washington said. “And behind the women, there is always a great mother or aunt, someone who supports them.”

She added, “I think the pictures will really highlight and show all the kindness. You see the sincerity, the beauty in the photos. Each of the ladies have their own special beauty.”

Madsen said the calendar is an example of how people with differing views can still work together.

“My hope is that people will see that a diverse range of candidates, elected officials, some of whom hold seriously opposing views, and that they can see those people come together for a common cause, with that being making things better for everyone,” he said.

The calendar went on sale Monday. The calendars can be purchased at Hy-Vee, 115 S. 29th St., Dr. Terry Moehnke, 25 S. 16th St., and Jifi Print, 2200 Central Ave. A wall calendar is $20 for 8 1/2-by-11-inch pages. A half-sized calendar is $15.

All of the proceeds will be used to support a mural to be painted on the beams of Kenyon Road Bridge in Pleasant Valley during the spring of 2019.

Washington said the calendar is just a reminder that in spite of political differences, the community needs to be on the same team to continue to grow.

“The thought behind it was no matter who wins, no matter who loses, at the end of the day respect and unity is the bottom line,” Washington said. “Trying to unify for 2019.”