The Soapbox

In this special edition of Saturday Soapbox, Daily Herald editors offer their wishes for the new year.

Make good headlines this year:

Keep us from using "shootings" or "DUI" or "abuse" in our headlines, from writing about a family devastated by the loss of a loved one, from running a picture of a home ruined by fire, from listing charges of corruption, and instead show us all the good and heroic we know is out there. - Neil Holdway, assistant managing editor/copy desk

Let it just be the beginning:

During December, through an anonymous benefactor we mailed $100 bills to a different person each day based on their brief essay on how they'd use the money to help someone else. Since then we've gotten more than $6,000 in reader contributions to keep it going. We'd love to see that spirit of giving continue to blossom. - Jim Baumann, managing editorMore dual language programs:

Europeans are proficient in several languages while most U.S. schools focus on English. Why don't we also embrace a multilingual society? Suburban schools that implement dual language programs as early as kindergarten are taking the right steps. My hope for 2015 is that more schools adopt them. - Marco Ortiz, Reflejos content editor

Follow these athletes' examples:

What I want to see in 2015 is athletes with the composure of Gracie Gold, the class of Paul Konerko, the drive of Jewell Loyd, the humility of Scott Tolzien, the joy of Jackie Robinson West, the heart of Tamika Catchings - Tom Quinlan, sports editor

Let's empower our youth:

Every generation faces new challenges. Among those for suburban teens are high college costs, e-cig and other substance abuse, distractions of technology, sexting and bullying, school and community violence. My wish is for a renewed focus on moral values for our young people to help them overcome these challenges. - Colleen Thomas, assistant Opinion page editor

Embrace what our area has to offer:

Between the city and suburbs, a bounty of entertainment options lies within miles of our front doors. Vow to take advantage of them in 2015. The options are endless. - Lisa Friedman Miner, entertainment/regional editor

Let us build each other up:

Our goal with online comments is to provide a place for constructive conversation. Too often, it seems that we just try to drown each other out. My wish is that instead of tearing each other down, we work together to build the suburbs up. - Teresa Schmedding, deputy managing editor/digital

Do one thing:

Across the suburbs men and women stand out for action on behalf of others. We salute and thank them and wonder: What if all of us followed their lead this year? Imagine what would happen if everyone did one thing to better the lives of others? - Diane Dungey, deputy managing editor/news and projects

Let's get it done:

I'm hoping Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner and the state legislature embark in the new year on an era of cooperation and sincerity - with passion, certainly, but without regard to who gets credit or blame - to turn the state's fortunes around. - Jim Slusher, assistant managing editor/opinion

Here's to a participatory democracy:

I'm looking for a spirited campaign season leading up to April's local elections, with meaningful local issues at the center of the discussion. The most important elections are the local ones, so find out all you can about the people who want to represent you and what their ideas are. - Renee Trappe, assistant managing editor/local news

The year of harmony:

Throughout the world, there is so much ethnic, racial and religious strife. This year, let's strive to make our suburbs a model of tolerance, understanding and social justice. Let's love our neighbors. Let's make our world a little better place. - John Lampinen, editor