Sincerely, Joe

Hundreds of people write letters, emails and direct messages to Joe Biden every day, with questions, looking for support and leadership, or offering suggestions and ideas. Americans are longing for empathetic leadership and a president who listens to and understands their problems. Joe knows the power of a simple act of kindness — it’s animated his entire career in public life. “Sincerely, Joe” is a conversation with the American people about the challenges they face, the values we share, and the progress we can make if we stand united.

Dear Joe,

I am a recent graduate of a small, liberal arts school called Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and a huge supporter since you announced your candidacy. I am a member of Students for Biden Leadership Council and founded and led Students for Biden — Memphis, TN this past year. My parents worked for you in the Senate in the early ’90s and got me on the “Biden train” so to speak. Needless to say, my support for you goes all the way back before college was even on my mind, when my parents hosted you in Concord NH during your ’08 presidential run.

I am not going to lie, these past few months have been challenging. Having my last semester of undergrad cut short was difficult, both socially and academically. I remember when I found out that Rhodes was going remote, I was on a beach in California, as somehow my friends and I had left for spring break about a week before announcements of COVID-19 hitting the U.S. came out and distancing guidance was just beginning in the states of California, coincidentally, and Washington. It was at the end of our trip that things shut down. The week before my break, I was running around Memphis knocking on doors telling people to “get out the vote!” and “support Joe Biden!” Then, you won Tennessee on Super Tuesday. Endorsement after endorsement was going to you. I was in my last week of in-person undergrad classes, having no idea that it would be the last time I saw some of my professors and friends. I think the most difficult part of it was being so far from my family and hometown friends, many of whom are health-compromised and are particularly vulnerable. It was challenging and took a toll on my mental health.

I kept busy with my virtual classes though and reminded myself consistently to stay optimistic. The circumstances of now are hard, but the amount of unity and love that many people are showing empowers me to work hard and remember that it is not forever.

I could talk about how much praise I have for you and this campaign for hours and hours. But I will end with just one question.

As we’ve seen the past few months, the Coronavirus pandemic has become an example of the lack of planning and funding on the front-end to prevent longer-term economic and human suffering. The losses have shown a gap in our resiliency to sudden health challenges. As a young person concerned about the future health of our planet, I fear that climate change has the potential to be another case of lack of planning and funding like we have seen with the Coronavirus. Given this, do you plan to adjust your climate action plan?

You’ve had my support and endorsement from the start, Joe, so much so that my senior seminar research project was on “Can a Democrat beat Trump?” My final paper wound up being 22 pages of me discussing not just how a Democrat can beat Trump but how YOU can beat Trump as the presumptive Democratic nominee. You keep me passionate and optimistic, and I cannot wait, literally, for you to be the 46th President in November.

Wishing you and your loved ones wellness and good health,

Sophie Maher

New Castle, NH / Memphis, TN

Dear Sophie,

Thanks for reaching out, for your generous words of support, and most importantly, for getting engaged in this election.

Millennials and Gen Z have dealt with setback after setback — a nation at war, deep recessions, dangerous political divides and social unrest, mass shootings, and now, a global pandemic that has upended your senior year of college. That you’ve decided to step up and fight for what you believe in at this difficult time is remarkable — and so very important. It gives me hope that we’ll get through this and emerge a stronger, more resilient, more inclusive nation. But we have a lot of work to do.

With record high unemployment and over 100,000 lives lost, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought into greater focus the need for real change in this country. But we must not let a lack of leadership from the White House curtail our determination to get big things done for the American people — for young Americans entering adulthood and launching their careers. We must not allow this pandemic to rob young people like you of the futures and economic opportunities you have been working so hard to build. And as we recover, we must think about those who were already struggling to get by before the crisis.

I’m grateful for the question you asked, Sophie, and I appreciate the parallel you highlight between the health of our population and the health of our planet — and our readiness to protect it for future generations. The fact is, climate change already poses an existential threat — not just to our environment, but to our health, our communities, our national security, and our economic well-being. And, just as coronavirus has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color, low-income, and indigenous communities, climate change poses a greater threat to those communities as well. Every American, regardless of the zip code, is entitled to land, air, and water that is clean and free of health risks. We must — and as President, I will — fight for community-driven solutions that address environmental injustices and ensure that communities harmed by climate change and pollution are the first to benefit from a Clean Economy Revolution.

Protecting our planet for future generations also requires a global effort and leadership to ensure the rest of the world is raising their ambitions alongside the United States. Re-entering the Paris Climate Agreement is just the first step in regaining the progress that’s been eroded by the Trump Administration. In the first 100 days of a Biden Administration, I will convene a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of major carbon-emitting nations and persuade them to raise the stakes of their commitment to meet the scope of this challenge.

Tackling climate change will take courage, creativity, innovation, and our collective determination. But I remain confident, if we harness the energy and the talent of your generation, we can turn this threat into a real opportunity. You and your classmates are going to be crucial in rebuilding this country. And you’re ready. You represent the most talented, most tolerant, and most educated generation in history. The road will be long, but your efforts will allow us to emerge stronger, more empathetic, and more united. Despite the suffering we’re witnessing today, this can be an inflection point — a transformative period in American history during which we set our sights to justice, fairness, and equality… and then we find the courage to act boldly, with conviction, to make them a reality.

Thanks again for writing and sharing your story, Sophie. I look forward to seeing where the future takes you.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.