Last night, Spokane had the opportunity to hear from prize-winning journalist Michael Powell.

Michael has spent his career asking hard questions about cities, public safety, homelessness, addiction, policy, and the choices communities make when the answers are anything but simple.

He brought that perspective to our Annual Dinner, not to tell Spokane what to think, but to challenge us to think more deeply about the decisions in front of us.

That matters.

Because meaningful progress rarely begins with everyone agreeing. It begins when we are willing to listen, ask better questions, and stay in the conversation long enough to understand what is really at stake.

Thank you, Michael, for bringing your experience, candor, and perspective to Spokane.

The conversation matters. What we do with it will shape what comes next.