Anyone who knows us knows our front porch is where we feel most at home. It’s where my grandmother sipped mint juleps with friends, where my dad picked up my mom for dates, and where Olivia and I now watch the sun set while our kids play outside. It’s where the best conversations happen, where music drifts through the Bluetooth speakers, and where our neighbors—along with our outdoor cats and the neighborhood raccoon gang—know they’re always welcome.
Even when it’s too cold to sit outside, our “inside porch” (aka the living room) carries that same energy of connection and comfort. Between the two is a faulty Ring doorbell that, for a while, wore a label reading, “Doorbell doesn’t work. Please yell ‘Mustaaard!’ to let us know you’re here.” If you know, you know—that label wasn’t about the condiment but a nod to Kendrick Lamar’s song “tv off.”
Kendrick’s been everywhere lately. Since the Super Bowl halftime show, my social feeds have been full of “What did he say?” and “Can I wear my flare jeans again since Kendrick did?” posts. As a not-so-hip 40-something mom, I’m proud to say Kendrick was a household name for us long before Serena Williams famously crip walked to his Drake diss track. I’ll just say having a 13-year-old who knows every hip-hop “beef” and owns not one but two Kendrick vinyls has been both eye-opening and heartwarming.
Beyond the beat drops and family dance parties, Kendrick’s voice stands out because of how he uses it. His storytelling is raw, real, and unafraid to shine a light where it’s needed. That’s the same kind of storytelling we’re building at LF Voices Collective—lifting up voices, creating space for truth, and connecting with people in real, authentic ways.
Diversity and authenticity—we need both now more than ever. That’s what this issue, our first official Amplify by LFVC newsletter, is all about. I hope it feels like a seat on our front porch, where stories find a home and where truth and connection always have a place.
So, pull up a chair, shout “Mustaaard!” if you need to, and let’s get into it. Oh, and do yourself a favor and go listen to some Kenny Lamar.
Cheers!
Lauchlin & Olivia