What I am Thankful For -

Over the last few months, I have been making an attempt to create a counternarrative to 2020. One thing after another has made this quite a challenging year. As I look back over the last 11 months through a different lens, I then begin to see things much clearer. The clarity of it all initially hit me like a ton of bricks when my wife and I traveled to Belle Isle and viewed the Covid-19 memorial. Watching the news and listening to social media can provide some information, but to see those names and faces helped us to reflect in a much different way.

My first thought is that I am thankful for the opportunity to meet and work with like minded people on the first virtual Freedom Fund Dinner . The planning began at the beginning of the pandemic. We had no idea of how long this would last, but we knew that we would have to do things differently. We spent many hours together, and yet some of us on that team have never seen each other in person. We worked to create memorable moments and utilized skills that we never knew we had! The fight and struggle continues and the work is clearly needed, but when you sit back and think about it, there is quite a bit to be thankful for.

Also, back in March, many people lost their jobs, or had to put themselves at risk with little to no preparation. My job allowed me to work from home. Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams became my workplace. I typically commuted to 4 or more schools daily all over the city of Detroit. Also, back and forth from Detroit to Wayne (my office), I logged more than 100 miles round trip regularly. In and out of schools as well as traffic, gas stations, and fast food joints for lunch when the scheduled meetings went longer than expected. I am thankful for an opportunity to continue working, serving and helping school teachers and leadership with professional learning to improve student achievement. The truth of the matter is that I spend more time on task now than before because I am not driving to and from one place to another. During these times, we have all taken a deep breath and have spoken of and been appreciative of our human connection.

I am thankful for friends and family all over the US that made calls, texts, video calls and FB posts to say that they were safe. There have been some sad news shared, as we've all been touched in one way or another by the pandemic or any other peril of life. There have been some connections made with old college friends that I haven't seen or spoken to in years and family connections as well. We've even created new traditions that I hope will continue.

These blessings and challenges will provide plenty of opportunities for us to do better and be better in the coming years.