Abdullahi Ahmed, Ed.D., of Portland is a naturalized citizen who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia.

He has worked for the Portland Public Schools since 2001.

An election is an important moment in the American collective life, an opportunity to participate in a shared process of decision-making. It allows citizens of diverse backgrounds and views to express their views and listen to different perspectives, to agree or disagree.

Now that the election has passed, citizens have another responsibility: to come together, even when we may have voted differently or hold different views about the outcome.

I recognize that calling upon others to take responsibility must begin with a willingness to accept that responsibility ourselves. I’m starting with this op-ed, not because writing alone will solve the challenges facing our communities, but because I believe we must each find ways to contribute to the conversations and actions that bring people together.

By writing these words, I hope to model the responsibility I’m asking others to embrace: to speak constructively, encourage reflection, promote understanding and remind ourselves of our shared obligations to one another.

This is my contribution to a broader conversation and an invitation for each of us to consider what we can do within our own sphere of influence.

Participation in the electoral process requires us to respect the process itself, including the peaceful transition from one chapter to the next.

It does not require us to think alike, set aside our convictions or pretend that every concern has been resolved. Rather, it calls on us to remain engaged while treating one another with respect.

In the days and weeks ahead, some conversations may be difficult. Strong feelings are natural, and people may need time to reflect. Make room for those feelings without allowing disagreement to turn into contempt. Ask questions with curiosity, listen without preparing a rebuttal, and speak with care about people whose experiences differ from your own. Respectful discussion does not mean avoiding difficult topics. It means approaching them in ways that preserve the possibility of understanding and cooperation.

Regardless of the outcome, we should work toward a better tomorrow.

Our shared lives do not stop at the ballot box. We are neighbors, colleagues, family members, students, educators and community partners. We rely on one another every day in our classrooms, workplaces, local organizations and public spaces. The bonds we build through these everyday connections can help us move forward, even when wider national conversations feel divided.

I recognize that, at times, we may feel that the challenges facing our communities are too big and that the solutions are beyond our control. We may look at the issues around us and wonder what difference one person, one family or one community can make.

Yet, I believe we have more influence than we sometimes realize. We may not be able to change everything, but we can make a difference within our own sphere of influence.

We can make our neighborhoods more welcoming, our schools more inclusive, our workplaces more respectful and our communities more supportive.

We can reach out, build relationships, support one another and take responsibility for the spaces we share. Meaningful change does not always begin with those in the highest positions of authority. Often, it begins with ordinary people making deliberate efforts to improve the lives of those around them.

Maine brings together people from different backgrounds, with different ideas, experiences and hopes for the future. When we model respectful disagreement and kindness, we help future generations understand that civic life is not simply about winning an argument or having things go our way.

It is also about listening, learning, contributing and finding ways to address the problems we share. These habits matter in every generation.

I call upon my fellow citizens of our city and state to choose unity, create positivity and remain committed to one another. Let us choose words that build rather than diminish. Let us reach out to someone with whom we disagree, not to pressure them to change their mind, but to understand what matters to them.

Let us recognize the good work already happening around us and find practical ways to contribute. A thoughtful conversation, a helping hand, a welcoming gesture or a genuine effort to support a neighbor may seem small, but each has the potential to strengthen the trust our communities need.

We may not have control over every decision or every circumstance, but we all have a role to play in shaping the communities in which we live.

Our responsibility to one another does not end with an election. In many ways, it begins again.