This week, we remember Dolly Parton not simply for the songs she gave the world, but for the love she gave to people.

Dolly had a remarkable way of making everyone feel like they belonged. She crossed boundaries of race, politics, geography and generations with something increasingly rare—genuine kindness.

But perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of her legacy was her belief in children.

Dolly understood that putting a book into the hands of a child could put an entirely different future within their reach. Through her Imagination Library, she encouraged children to read, learn, dream and believe that their circumstances did not have to determine where their lives could go.

Millions of children received books because one woman believed that every child deserved the opportunity to better themselves through reading.

That is a legacy worth remembering.

Today, our community mourns the loss of Ray Miller Jr.

There are some people whose passing makes you stop—not simply because they are gone, but because you realize how much of themselves they gave while they were here.

Ray Miller Jr. spent a lifetime serving, teaching, advocating, opening doors and trying to leave his community stronger than he found it. His name will be remembered, but more importantly, so will the lives he touched along the way.

To his family, friends, colleagues and everyone who loved him, the Black Wall extends our deepest and most sincere condolences. No words can replace someone who has meant so much to so many. We pray that the memories, lessons, laughter and love he leaves behind bring comfort in the difficult days ahead.

A life of service does not end when the person leaves us. It continues in the people they helped, the doors…

Billions are spent every year studying how to influence what you think.

Political campaigns pay consultants to test which words and messages make voters angry, afraid, hopeful, or motivated enough to act.

Corporations pay advertising companies to learn what makes consumers buy, trust a brand, or change their behavior.

Social-media platforms collect behavioral signals that help determine which content keeps people watching, clicking, sharing, and reacting.

Advocacy groups and political organizations spend money on advertising designed to move public opinion.