Happy New Year, y’all! Today, my sister left Atlanta to return home with her family, so while the holidays are technically over, this past week I remained focused on soaking up my final moments with loved ones.

Since posting my reflections on 2017, I’ve been thinking a lot about 2018 and how I want to approach the year to come. Writing out my resolutions for resistance proved so helpful last year so I want to set my intentions in order to have a baseline from which I can hold myself accountable.

My theme for 2018 is to focus local. Without further ado, here are my five resolutions for 2018.

1) Local politics – Last year, I got deeply involved in local politics for the first time in my life. I am committed to staying engaged politically and am already involved in Stacey Abrams historic campaign for Georgia Governor. When she wins, Abrams will become the first Black woman to serve as Governor in the history of our country.

Beyond supporting individual candidates, I plan to donate to, volunteer with and lift up the work of grassroots organizations that have been and will continue to do get out the vote work in communities of color throughout Georgia. I’m already aware of Georgia WAND, Project South, New Georgia Project and The People’s Agenda, but I know that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

2) Local community (micro)– I will continue to work towards equity and inclusion my neighborhood, my children’s school and in my family. In my neighborhood, this will look like holding our civic association and neighborhood planning unit accountable and continuing to develop our equity focused neighbor group “Neighbors Organizing for Progress and Equity.” At my kid’s school, I will continue to volunteer with our multiracial parent group, Parents for Action, Reflection and Equity, in order to provide opportunities for our community to connect and engage around issues of equity. In my family, I will continue to interrupt whiteness, I will strive to involve my children more in racial and social justice actions and I will continue to diversify our book, toy and media collections to be representative beyond whiteness as default.

3) Local community (macro) – Atlanta just elected a new mayor, a new city council president, new city council members and more. Our city is undergoing a massive transition and holding our elected officials accountable is of paramount importance. I plan to continue to show up for the racial and social justice organizations and organizers who achieved brilliant results despite the odds being against them. Folks like Southerners on New Ground, Project South, Charis Circle, Georgia WAND, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Trans Housing Atlanta Program, Racial Justice Action Center and more. These organizations deserve our support.

4) Donate local – As an addendum to above, I will continue to focus my personal giving on supporting Black and queer led, grassroots organizations that serve racial and social justice missions in Atlanta, in Georgia and in the South East. I will also focus my direct giving on local bail funds, activists and community members.

5) Self-care – The ultimate local focus: focusing on myself! I struggled the most in this arena last year, so I’m going to try to be more specific in my goals and see if I can hold myself accountable. I’m going to exercise at least 3 times a week. I’m going to read words from a book every single day. I’m going to go on a date with my husband once a month. I’m going to make my bed every day. This last one may sound odd, but when I don’t make my bed I feel sloppy and disorganized. I’ve already been practicing this resolution and taking the 2 minutes to make my bed honestly feels meditative. Strange, but true!

Let’s do this 2018! I’m ready to get to work. What are your resolutions for 2018?