Dark clouds in the September skies yielded to bright October bundles. I rang bells along South Leavitt — the block I’ve lived on for over 25 years. “I’m your captain. What’re going to do this political season?”

Meet my neighbors. Think about them and tell me that we should stay on the couch, that it doesn’t matter because we are in a “safe” state, that nothing matters, that we should ignore this heightened political environment.

We started at Theresa Mah’s office. Walk sheets of the frequent voters. Me and Danny Ferrales. He is the first inspiration, “I love walking precincts. Been doing it my whole life.” Not shy. Goes quickly for signatures on the “Term Limits for the Mayor” petition.

Retired Latino homeowner. Wouldn’t repeat his hopeful comment about Donald Trump from 3 weeks ago. Disgusted with rising property taxes and the Mayor’s favoritism toward downtown. A smile at the mention of Theresa. A scowl for alderman George Cardenas.

White guy in his 40s whom I had never seen. Didn’t seem to be down on his luck. “Do you live here?” “Yes, just renting.” Positive for Mah, for making corporations pay, and for access to higher education for all.” It gave me a lift.

One of the older sons of a family with 6 votes. “Help for college, yes. Maybe I could of gone. I couldn’t afford it.” I double checked his first name. “Same as my dad.” I knew his old man had passed from cancer last year. “Que Descance en Paz”. “Thanks” he said, sincerely.

A Chinese man about my age. I told him I lived across the street for 25 years. He pointed to his breast, “Thirty for me”. We shared a smile that said. “what a crazy world. Where neighbors are unknown, anonymous and nothing more than a closed front curtain.” He didn’t seem to have a clue about Theresa. But it could have been a language problem.

Another neighbor who’d never blipped my radar — this one directly across the street. I told her that her father, a retired CTA bus driver, had given me first aid the time I opened up a gash on my palm 25 years ago. Another signature on the term limits petition. In return she got my business card, “Neighbors need to watch for neighbors.”

The friendliest Puerto Rican this side of San Juan. Thirty one years in an industrial springs plant that no longer exists on Western. Lots of head shakes and jokes about Trump. Concern for grandchildren coming of age. “If you need any help with your wife, you still have my card?”

Younger dude who’s getting by tutoring Calculus. “Hey if you need a list of union job openings in hotels, talk to my wife.” And “What do you think of the 3rd survey question about affordable college.” “Are you kidding?” he grinned.

Retired couple – both from CPS. The wife: “If I have to I’ll drive 40 miles to get my son and bring him to vote against Trump.” The husband: “We went to hearings on cutbacks of help for the disabled. My heart goes out. Wanted to cry.”

Latino college student. “My brother shocked me saying he’d vote for Trump. I started yelling did he realize that could mean their own mother and father could be deported”

Another house with multiple Latino voters. After she signs the term limits petition, “Make sure your brother comes to our IPO meeting, Tuesday. We’re deciding on endorsements. You can come too, if you want.”

This is just a sampling of what you can find on any single block on the Southwest side. There is a key task for us progressives — even more important that how exactly we express ourselves on our independent palm cards and election outreach. Hyper local organizing among the people most affected and most threatened. Stand as a leader. Express what they realize.

This is a time of realignment, of peril, of opportunity, and danger. Uniting against Trump is the clarion call. Be there in your own precinct with all the like minded people to send a clear message. We are the yeast in the loaf, but not smarter the the whole.

Aggregate our forces to take on the battles which will surely come. Cultivate your own block captains. The grassroots is the soil for democracy. Treasure, protect, and uplift. Vote Democratic emphasizing not Hillary but the planks that our Sanders movement forced into the platform.