The Heinz Endowment’s President Grant Oliphant shared some heartening thoughts about the power of community that we want to reiterate. We would like to thank him for his compassionate leadership in this difficult time. You can read his entire blog post here.
“It is important for us all to remember that this moment will pass. Those of us who have been around a while know that. What will define us when that moment comes is how we respond between now and then. If there is a bright side to the challenges we face right now, it is that it provides an opportunity for a reset. We are being given the chance and the occasion to reacquaint ourselves once again with the importance of acting in the common good, of exercising shared responsibility, of remaining accountable not just to ourselves but to each other and to the society of which we are a part. It is the best of the human spirit we are being called upon to model.
That, very simply, is the power we have to meet a moment like this, and it is immense. As Lau Tzu wrote, “From caring comes courage.” The courage we need comes from knowing we are standing together, as one community and one people. What we will be proud of one day is how well we did that and how well we learned from the experience.
Where to begin? Simple: Let’s look out for each other, check on our neighbors and friends, support small businesses that are struggling, support good government, defend scientific expertise, fight racism, demand justice.
And, yes, please, wash your hands.”
-Grant Oliphant, President, The Heinz Endowments