On Friday, Sept. 4, a new Black Lives Matter banner was raised across U.S. 68 on the north end of the village. Spearheaded by the Next Steps initiative, the project was supported by the Village of Yellow Springs, which paid for the banner, and the Yellow Springs Arts Commission, which approved it.

Next Steps grew out of Courageous Conversations, a six-week program organized by The 365 Project and the Yellow Springs Havurah to gather diverse groups in the village to talk about racism.

Next Steps is, from left, David Seitz, Karen McKee, Rich Bullock, Locksley Orr, Mori Rothman-Zecher, Megan Bachman, Vivian Markley and, not pictured, Moya Shea.