PolicyLink

Here is a poem by Chelan Harkin shared by a dear friend Eva Paterson, Founder of Equal Justice Society (EJS), that really resonates in this moment.  I think others may be strengthened by it as I was.   “It’s when the earth shakes And foundations crumble That our light is called To rise up.   It’s when everything falls away And shakes us to the core  And awakens all Of our hidden ghosts  That we dig deeper to find  Once inaccessible strength.   It’s in times when division is fierce That we must reach for each other And hold each other much Much tighter.    Do not fall away now. This is the time to rise. Your light is being summoned. Your integrity is being tested That it may stand more tall.   When everything collapses We must find within us That which is indomitable.    Rise, and find the strength in your heart. Rise, and find the strength in each other    Burn through your devastation,  Make it your fuel.    Bring forth your light.  Now is not the time To be afraid of the dark”   May it inspire you, too. 💜 We are not defeated and we are not done. Onward!

I am A 21st century leader I must prepare myself to be The very best that I can be I must prepare my body, my spirit, and my mind And in time I’ll shine (you’ll shine, we’ll shine) In the light of love, justice, and peace We’ll shine In the 21st Century Like never before I am, you are, we are 21st Century leaders When I was young, I attended 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, a week-long intensive for youth leaders organized by civil rights leader Rose Sanders and her husband, Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders. We heard stories about historical giants like Medgar Evers, individuals that chose to commit their lives and legacies to the fight for justice in America. We sang songs from the depths of our souls that rooted in us an expectation of transformative solidarity. We shouted this creed, which continues to echo in my heart — particularly this week. I am thinking this week about the elders who dedicated their lives to our liberation, and the long struggle that has been going on for centuries. And I am thinking about many of you, the leaders who have taken up this struggle from our ancestors who worked together for change. We will endure, we will shine, and we will continue the fight to perfect the multiracial democracy that has yet to be, but is ours to create.

I used to say that I will not get to heal in this lifetime. And I was talking to a friend Aria, who said, “You know what, Michael, maybe you should consider that you heal in the work.” So I'm going to heal by doing this work. Yes, my heart weeps for what we do to our people or what's being done to them. I wake up every day and it hurts me. And nevertheless, I've got to hold the thing that is in the equity definition that allows me to do this work. That is the “all.” A beautiful word that encompasses all of our humanity. I've got to hold the grace to do this work with love for all, with humility and care that is necessary so that we can realize the promise of equity in our lifetime. We will heal together and we will continue to advance, at last, a nation that loves all.

Today PolicyLink’s CEO, Dr. Michael McAfee, shared his thoughts with CNN Business on how he is approaching to support the PolicyLink team in light of the election. At PolicyLink, we encourage our staff to take the leave they need and use employee benefits to restore themselves," he says. "Because after the election, nearly 100 million people will still be struggling to make ends meet.” This balance of empathy and commitment to the mission is how we can support our people and work in service of their thriving while still working towards designing a nation where all people can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Check out the full article by Jeanne Sahadi for more: https://lnkd.in/gJESu5qb

In this moment of uncertainty, I am choosing to steady myself in three certainties. First, a belief in the possibility of a new nation. Second, I am anchored by a determination to move forward toward that nation. And finally, I am steadied by a recognition of our collective power to deliver. Onward. #WeAreTheFounders

As Nikole Hannah-Jones reminded us at our Equity Summit, when Frederick Douglass was giving abolitionist speeches in 1835, abolitionists were only 2% of the population. Their vision was extremely unpopular, and people would have said you were living in a fantasy to think slavery would be abolished within a matter of years. But yet they achieved that, seeing beyond the circumstances of their conditions towards their vision for freedom. We must hold that tumultuous moments in our history are not unprecedented. The work of democratic nation-building must continue under chaotic, improbable circumstances. And we do this work with our ancestors at our back, who believed in the possibility of democracy, even when they had never experienced it. From the abolition of slavery to the Civil Rights Act, from the establishment of free public education to the work week – it is people coming together for change that has always led us closer to true democracy. At this moment, our love for all requires us to step into our power and manifest the unrealized promise of our nation within our lifetime. No matter the headwinds, we must continue working to transform our democracy and economy in service of our collective flourishing, toward a country that works for all. Find strength in the whispers of our ancestors and dreams of generations to come. Hold strong in this storm. #WeAreTheFounders

Equity is the just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. And when we say ALL we mean ALL. All is a joyful stance, a hopeful stance, and one we can deliver together.

This morning, the uncertainty of what the day may hold weighs heavy on my heart. But alongside that weight lies something stronger: a clarity of purpose that has always guided me, no matter the outcome of any election. To some, the knowledge of the work we have yet to do might feel daunting.  To me, it’s been a source of resilience, strengthened by those who came before me, who blazed this path. It’s my honor to carry their vision forward – for our children, grandchildren, and future generations. I’ve been driven by a commitment to justice that goes well beyond the ballot box. Don’t misunderstand me—voting is a right, a responsibility hard-earned by those who came before us. Vote today. Honor them. But don’t forget your vote is only the beginning. Our real work—the work of building a flourishing multiracial democracy—is happening on the front lines. It lives in our communities, our schools, our businesses, and in every conversation and choice we make toward justice. The vision of a nation where all can flourish has yet to be realized. We can co-create a future where equity is not just an aspiration but a lived reality. No one said it wouldn’t be a struggle. It will take dedication to fulfill the vision. But together, I believe we can realize the full promise of a radically inclusive multiracial democracy. No matter what happens today, the work continues. Who’s joining?

The unfinished story of our democracy is ours to write. We, the people, have always believed in more. We, the people, have always created more.  We the people have the power. The flourishing multiracial democracy that has not yet existed, is ours to create. We are the true founders. #WeAreTheFounders

This nation is ours, and it is ours to continue to perfect until it works for everyone within it — no matter what. This work knows no political season. It is “We The People” who have continued to perfect this democracy. We take up this aspirational, prophetic struggle from our ancestors who didn’t have the taste of democracy but worked together for change. We don’t just have a taste of democracy; we have their courage, hopes, and dreams at our backs. #WeAreTheFounders