Over the past several years, we’ve done just that. We built a city from the ground up. We built our home. We built a legacy, side by side, from open fields to thriving neighborhoods, from visions to design, from curiosity to possibility.

We did it as neighbors, as families, as partners in something greater than ourselves, and we are just the beginning. Through it all, I had the incredible privilege of raising two boys who were watching and learning what it means to serve, to lead and to love the place you call home.

As the first female mayor in Vineyard, I often have the honor to speak to women and girls about leadership. With Father’s Day approaching, I want to speak to the boys too, my boys in particular, about leadership.

You’ve watched me sit in meetings long after bedtime. You’ve waited in the wings during city events and parades. You’ve seen both applause and criticism from the front row. And yet, through it all, you’ve grown more kind. More curious. More willing to help a neighbor rake leaves, hold a door or speak up for someone in need. You don’t need to walk my political path, but I hope you walk with purpose and with charity. Service isn’t a title. It’s a decision we make every day to lift, to listen, to lead with humility.

One of the deepest principles of leadership is kindness. Kindness isn’t weakness. It is not being a doormat either. It’s not a relinquishment of freedoms.

Kindness is action wrapped in wisdom and charity. It’s clarity in the midst of confusion. It’s understanding what must be done and knowing why you’re doing it. It is the quiet strength that carries conviction without cruelty and courage without applause. In this, we find true leadership, focused on responsibility, service and love.

A true leader takes a seat at the table with humility to do good and gives it back with the same urgency and grace. You don’t have to win an election to change the world. You don’t have to lead from the front to make a difference. Sometimes, you just have to show up willing and ready, with a shovel, a smile or a steady hand. Show up ready to lift where you stand. Be brave enough to stand in the gap. Build. Defend. Be kind. Leaders don’t rise by stepping on others. They rise by lifting.

Tearing down, stirring hatred and division, that’s not leadership. It’s not how you overcome. Instead, be true. Spread truth. Seek it. And stand by it, even when others can’t see it yet.

Truth is not always loud, but it is steady. And the world needs more people who carry it quietly and courageously. Not for gain, but because it is right.

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, from the founding fathers and the mothers who built this nation, to the pioneers who carved communities with determination, to today’s public servants doing their best to lead with integrity.

The vision for Vineyard extends far beyond any single moment or individual. This city, this life, is part of a legacy we inherit and one we help create. I hope you’ll continue to add to it, not in title, but in action. Because we each offer something unique, and we are here, for a time, to share that light with the world.

Across our community, I see parents who lead in homes, classrooms, churches and council chambers. Some are public figures. Others serve quietly behind the scenes. I think of fellow mayors, public safety officers, teachers, veterans, small business owners and neighbors who shoot hoops with my boys and play tag with them at the splash pad. And I think of my husband, my champion and our children’s rock, who shows our sons that love and strength are not opposites, but allies.

During my 2021 campaign, I shared that this would be my final term serving as mayor. As that chapter now draws to a close, I want to say thank you. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this city, my friends, my neighbors, my community and this great state of Utah.

What we’ve built together is nothing short of extraordinary, and it’s because of the people who have poured their time, talents and hearts into making Vineyard what it is today. Some of the most incredible people in Vineyard, throughout Utah and around the world have helped shape this place for the better.

As a thank you, I’m launching 150 Days of Service in partnership with One Kind Act a Day. This is a citywide effort to honor the individuals and organizations who have shaped this community and to express my deep gratitude for the chance to serve you.

Starting June 14, just ahead of Father’s Day, we begin. Every day, I’ll highlight acts of kindness, small and large. Every week, I’ll invite groups, families, students, seniors and businesses to join me in service projects across our city.

This Father’s Day, let’s remember that the greatest gift we give our children is teaching them how to lead by serving, how to be strong by being kind.

To my boys and the people I have been serving, here and across the state, I hope you do not only remember me as a mayor. I hope you remember that we served together. That you helped. That you cared. When you look back and as we move forward, I hope you think of me as your friend and neighbor. If there’s anything I can do for you, I’d be honored to help. I encourage you to stay engaged. Your voice, your vote and your willingness to do good will continue to shape Vineyard’s and our state’s future. Because that is how a legacy lives on.

With deep gratitude and love,

Julie Fullmer