Being moved by mass death isn’t just about numbers, or what day lost more people. It has to be about rekindling that collective consciousness that says we should all do better because we’re all “going through something hard.” We’re still learning about the tragedy of 9/11, and what we do afterward, two decades later.

When I walked into the Daily Chronicle office on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I never expected the paper I designed that day to be one that people would save. Twenty years later, as the only journalist from that day still at the Chronicle, I reached out to some of my former co-workers. Here's what they had to say:

Over the last few years, people have become more and more aware of the amount of garbage that we create, including a new group of volunteers helping clean up DeKalb.

Scott Reeder ponders whether government should be merciful as well as just.

It's understandable some may feel we're back to square one after this week's mandates announcements amid the current virus surge. I don't think so. Not yet. This time, we have choices before us we didn't have last year: vaccines.

DeKalb County has always had a lot to offer. Now it’s time to take it to the next level. Opportunity Unbound is an initiative by DeKalb County Economic Development Corp. to bring awareness to the area and promote the continued growth of our community.