A Rise of Community Collaborations!
What a year... Can you believe we are in the middle of December!? 2021 has been a big year for many. The “Triple Pandemic” also known as the tri-pandemic continued to dominate this year, as it did in 2020. This term was spread during 2020 during the spread of the COVID-19 deadly virus, systemic racism, and justice and economics that highlighted public safety and public health disparities.
We witnessed the rise of inequities to access power, basic resources, and support during the snowstorm for days to months.
We witnessed the rise of Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Child Welfare cases.
We witnessed the rise of Children Without Placement (CWOP) Crisis.
We witnessed the rise of homelessness and displacement.
We witnessed the rise of COVID cases impacting communities of color and taking many lives.
We witnessed a rise in unemployment and/or staff shortages.
More than anything, we saw the RISE of COMMUNITY collaborations!
We saw the power of community come together to share resources, space (despite the pandemic and need for social distancing). Community & Partners joined forces to hand out water & food during the snowstorm. People came together to partner to educate and help vulnerable communities access vaccinations. Collaborations increased between partners and survivors and parents to preserve families, safety and promote family well-being. Brave leaders stood for justice, equity, and trauma-informed care for individuals and worked towards holding systems accountable. No one was asking for credentials to help one another; it was just done. The resilience of individuals who had to navigate through digital divides, closures, childcare, and so many other barriers, opened businesses- using their own knowledge and skill set available to them.
For the first time in our lives, we were all surviving together. Typically, statistics determine a percentage of the risk factor. This time... We were 100 % at risk of a virus that could not predict individual impact. Some people had no symptoms, some had many or long-term effects, and others that were expected to beat it did not. We want to honor and send our condolences and hugs to everyone who lost a loved one or was separated from a loved one at this time.
The last stretch of the year, The Holidays…
We recognize that holidays can be a complete celebration of all the successes and accomplishments or be exceedingly difficult due to loneliness, loss, and grief for others. Christmas and New Year's celebrations vary across the world and yet may not be celebrated by all for cultural, financial, or emotional reasons.
How can you support and connect with your work, home, client community this month?
Ask. Evaluate and codesign your approach to support others during the holidays, this allows us to learn more about cultural diversity and experiences in shared spaces.
Learn. Take time to read about the specifics, roots, and even changes in how this time of the year impacts individuals and systems. This can help us to do our part to prevent further harm through a “savior mentality.”
Gathering. Each celebration mentioned above emphasizes a sense of gathering and recognition. Be open-minded to try new food, music, traditions.