by This past week, like many in recent times, we have been unsettled by the unknown. As we awaited the results of this historic election, the uncertainty also inspired ongoing reflection on the work that’s needed in this country.
The outcome of the election—regardless of your opinion on that outcome—does not change the fact that this country needs to reckon with racial injustice and racial inequality and to confront and dismantle systemic racism. There is much work ahead of us to create the America that we envision: one where socioeconomic mobility and racial justice are not rhetoric but reality, and are accessible to all who live in this country.
I have been heartened to see unprecedented levels of civic engagement—especially from young adults. 18–29-year-olds voted in record numbers this year: over 50% by some estimates. We must continue to empower our young adults, listen to them, and provide opportunities for them to reach their full potential. They are our present and our future.
We must continue working for change—to ensure that Black Lives Matter; that our institutions and organizations are anti-racist; that every young adult in this country has access to the opportunity that they deserve. We can be an important part of supporting our 46th president in the work to move our country towards unity and prosperity. With economic, racial, and social justice unapologetically as our true north, we can build the America we want to see. Opportunity has never been partisan.
We can make 2020 a turning point: a time when we collectively decided that all of our fellow Americans deserve equal access to justice and opportunity. A time when we chose to turn words into action and to actualize what it means to be the “land of opportunity”. Let 2020 be the moment that turns into a Movement—a Movement that strengthens our commitment to the pursuit of justice and a new status quo that lives up to the values upon which our country was founded.
We serve today knowing that what is wrong in our country can be fixed by what is right in our country. As we look to the future, we need leaders from all facets of society to step up and create more pathways to opportunities. We need dramatic, sustained changes to our country’s policies and practices in order to ensure that our society is far more inclusive, and that economic mobility is accessible to all. Through empathetic leadership and a lot of hard work, I’m optimistic that we will get there.
Stay safe and be well,
Gerald