Reflections on the eve of 9.11 

It is hard to forget where we were on the morning of September 11. I was teaching at Birmingham High School in Los Angeles Unified School District. My future husband was a doctor at Walter Reed Army Hospital. 

In many ways the world stopped that day as we mourned the loss of some 2,977 victims of the attacks on our nation. But in other ways our communities re-started as we found that more unites us than divides us. In the work to rebuild and to defend our values - it didn't matter if you were a republican or a democrat - then, we were proud to say, we are all Americans. 

For our family the attacks of September 11 meant that my husband would serve overseas through multiple deployments to Iraq. It meant three Thanksgivings where we had an empty seat at our table. 

Though, for too many families it meant that in spite of the great efforts of his work, and the work of medical personnel across our armed forces, more than 7,000 of  our nation's sons and daughters never came home. Their absence is with us, always. 

Since 2015 September 11 has taken on a new joy for our family. That was the day our youngest son, Lorenzo Hart Rolli, was born. He carries the name of Isolyn Hart, the woman who emigrated from Jamaica to raise me and my sisters. The woman whose arrival in our life meant that my mother could shatter glass ceilings and in 1982 become the first female partner of any major law firm in Tennessee. Icy's story is the American dream - one made possible by her emphasis on hard work and education as the great equalizer. Today nearly all of her grandchildren have a college degree and are working professionals here in our beloved city. 

Our story is not unique. It is simply a reminder that we can come together to chart our own path forward. We can be bold in our belief that focusing on the critical elements that unite us - improving our schools, investing in public safety, and managing our city within our considerable means and no longer taxing long time residents out - we can, together, build a city that rejects the recipe book that has failed too many once-great cities. 

But to do that means electing a leader brave enough to challenge Nashville's permanent political class bent on holding power at all costs, including spreading lies and misinformation in these final days. As they go low, and lower, you'll see we won't. 

Be bold. Do not hesitate to ask your neighbor, your friend, your colleague if they will stand up and stand strong to vote for the change we need on Thursday September 14th.

Together, Nashville, our best days are ahead. 

Onwards, 

Alice

Alice visiting with retired metro firefighters, August 2023  

Alice Rolli is the only candidate for Mayor endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. Support improving public safety & vote Alice Rolli.