Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson, NCEJN Director of Infrastructure and Development
A new year can start at any time. Across our planet, worldwide celebrations ushered in 2025 on January 1st. As the year unfolds other “new year” celebrations will occur as our human populations mark new beginnings.
Our new year in the US brings us a variety of changes in local, state, and federal government – changes in who sets the legal construction of our society. And for many of us this means we must be vigilant, aware, and ready to act when called. We also continue to face the consequences of our changing climate.
So how, in the face of climate change bringing devastating floods, fires, hurricanes, winter storms, sea level rise, loss of wetlands and habitats, deregulation of protections against corporate greed, increased violence and incarceration, threats of deportation, and insecurity of food and housing do we find hope?
My hope comes from a deeply held faith that outside of me as an individual is a Creator that has me and mine. I trust in that faith. I ask you to think about where you find your hope and to intentionally choose to be focused on what good can happen rather than what cannot be or that hope in the face of these challenges is impossible. Take inspiration from adrienne marie brown as she writes on pleasure activism, “Pleasure activists believe that by tapping into the potential goodness in each of us we can generate justice and liberation, growing a healing abundance where we have been socialized to believe only scarcity exists” (pg. 3 – Pleasure Activism)
I take hope in our Network coming together in community:
To celebrate lifetime achievements!
To Support Intergenerational EJ Leadership!
Under 30 Youth Panel at the 25th Summit and Board Chairs Zulayka Santiago (holding little Ajamu) and Ajamu Dillahunt-Holloway. Also with them is Simone Dillahunt-Holloway
Adopt interventions to protect ourselves like the LifeStraw Community Water Purifier!
Into this new year I keep in my heart and mind the following quote from Octavia Butler:
“Prodigy is, at its essence, adaptability and persistent, positive obsession. Without persistence, what remains is an enthusiasm of the moment. Without adaptability, what remains may be channeled into destructive fanaticism. Without positive obsession, there is nothing at all.” From Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler (1993)
