We opened our 1st annual Open Horizon Leaders Retreat two years ago with a reference to the need for leaders to balance “effort and ease.”
In considering how we would address our community in a post after the inauguration, we internally discussed “what does it mean to remain steady?” We connected on the language internally and it was useful to be prompted to pause and consider what it actually takes to remain steady.
Remaining steady is fortified by community. Last week, we shared 3 days with 28 Leaders from organizations that we partner with and were deeply nourished by meaningful connection, witnessing reflection, and centering renewal. More to come about the retreat in a future post but for now we are vibing off the shared energy nurturing our spirit of hope.
Remaining steady for us at Open Horizon centers around looking at and for the truth; acknowledging what is before and behind us; and listening to partners’ fears and real-time experiences as they resist injustices targeting the most marginalized individuals. Steady is a response of love, trust and abundance that our truest nature can be an immense light for our collective paths and it can transform fear and doubt like it has for our ancestors before us and leaders currently in movement. Our strength is in our connections; we can be deeply fortified individually by a reminder that we are not alone.
Remaining steady is providing stability through ongoing partnership, trust and integrity, even in the face of sudden and chaotic changes around us. Our values, our methods of showing up and our commitment to our partners are the same as they have always been since the beginning of our five-year-old foundation.
Remaining steady means we wish you a happy, blessed and inspiring Black History Month and we celebrate and work toward abundant Black futures. We are proud to continue to center identities and recognize our collective histories that have resulted in our “now”.
Reflect with OH: What resources are keeping you(r organization) steady? How are you finding the community you need or the intellectual or spiritual grounding to sustain you?
Here is a resource you may find useful to share, promoting dialogue about fascism and with a few sector-specific episodes: What Types of Collaborations Can Defeat Fascists? With Isaac Ontiveros
By: D’Lynn Jacobs , Executive Director, Open Horizon
