This isn’t what I expected.
You may be a new member or you may have joined JWN during its first decade. Whenever you joined, you probably expected to attend an interesting Speaker’s forum, enjoy a lively lunch with a handful of other members each month, and participate in regular program meetings.
Nope, not this year. This isn’t what I expected.
Of course, Covid19 threatens our health and disrupted the luncheon ladder and the program calendar. Because of Covid19, it’s likely our traditions in gathering may be changed for a good long time. I can’t wait for things to return to normal. I long for the
camaraderie
of our gatherings and the return to times past.
This isn’t what I expected.
I’ve been dismayed and my eyes have been opened by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and
Ahmaud Arbery. One of my fundamental beliefs, that fairness and equality progresses with each generation, has been proven wrong.
Like Covid19, this will be affecting our thoughts, conversations and priorities for a good long time. In fact, I can’t say that I hope for things to return to “normal.”
This isn’t what I expected.
I anticipated this year as JWN’s president with excitement. And I still am filled with excitement. However, how I serve as JWN’s president will look different.
I had imagined frequent ad hoc gatherings during the year as we fostered each other’s professional and personal aspirations, sometimes reminiscing, but always imagining what should be and pushing each other to higher aspirations.
So, we’re going to do that.
On Thursday, July 16 at 4 p.m, please join me for a conversation led by fellow board member Helen Jackson. After a long career in public health, Helen now leads the Women of Color Cultural Foundation where she aims to foster egalitarianism for people of color in health, education, economic development and cultural humility by bringing communities together to serve the common good. The focus of this conversation will be the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and
Ahmaud Arbery and how our own members and their families have been affected. This is the first of many conversation topics JWN tackle this year.
This isn’t what I imagined, so let’s make it even better than I imagined. Please join me on July 16.