Moving beyond 2020: Looking to the future with guarded optimism

“I have an optimistic view of the world. I think we’re experiencing an incredible disruption to a way of living that wasn’t in balance for far too many people. That’s hard to see on the day-to-day, but I think it results in a path to a better world in the long run.” — Brett Brenton, Senior Director of Learning Networks, Forward Cities

“[This year] has made me more open to point out racial inequity in the workplace and to have these sometimes difficult discussions with whites because of their fragility. It has changed where I desire to focus my consulting work, more on this critical issue, as well as my HR career focus.” — A’Yanna T. Webster, Principal Consultant, Winning Within & Associates

“I am generally a pretty positive person, so I go along thinking things will get better, but then I talk to a friend, or see more news, or hear that someone still blindly supports those who are wreaking havoc in our country and wonder if this is the new normal or a precursor of worse things to come. I’m scared and sad, disillusioned and angry. But then it’s a new day and I do my best to be kind and respectful, since I believe that treating each other respectfully is the one thing that keeps us healthy in relationships with each other, our communities, our states, and between countries.” — Justine Allen, Program and Event Manager, Ten at the Top

“I am deeply worried as I see and hear so many acquaintances share opinions that are not based, in my opinion, on truth. I worry about the way leaders of churches have perpetuated mistruths to promote an agenda that is far different than what Christ ever taught. I fear that the past four years have accelerated all this on many levels and now the genie is out of the bottle… We desperately need to build community, love all our neighbors, and realize we are all in this together.” — Mary Beth Gentry, Executive Director, Young Women on the Move

“My views on race, gender, technology, and wealth have changed over the last year. My priorities have changed, my outlook has changed. I am more interested in the part of work that takes care of the planet but in a way that is intersectional with race, gender, class, and other aspects of equitability and liberation, as they are strongly connected. Working simply on climate change is not enough.” — Beena Ramaswami, Associate Principal/Director of Brand Identity, BNIM

“I will be ever more grateful for health, hearth, and science. I will give everyone even more grace in all things. I will no longer take for granted going out to eat, going to concerts, going to church, and going to parties. I will act on my outrage when it comes to social justice issues – as soon as I can figure out what I can do with my skillset to advance the cause in ways small and large… I am angry beyond belief [about] the incomplete history we have been taught about the Indigenous peoples who were here first – and how I was 50 years old before I ever heard the term ‘Doctrine of Discovery.’ I am very concerned about the polarization of our communities and pray for leaders who are reasonable and middle-of-the-road and who can build consensus.” — Jill H. Vassar, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer, EPIcenter (San Antonio, TX)

“My hope is that we as a collective humanity can see and understand from the pandemic that everything is connected.  It’s not about country borders. We need to move from a ME to a WE mindset.” — Yarrow Kraner, Founder/CEO of HATCH & H360.ai