The Bright Spots of 2021

We probably consult more lists during the month of December than at any other time of the year. There are guest lists and grocery lists for holiday gatherings, lists of ideas for holiday gift-giving, and, of course, that all-important list of New Year’s resolutions that helps us close out the old year and ring in the new one.

I compile all of these lists every December, but I particularly enjoy consulting published lists of the most memorable events and achievements of the past year—particularly the highlights that pundits believe will come to define the previous 365 days. These lists often spur me to write my own list of the year’s bright spots—a fulfilling practice that combines equal portions of nostalgia and gratitude.

Sadly, though, this practice has been understandably difficult in 2021, as it was in 2020.

The sadness, anger, frustration, and plain exhaustion that have punctuated these past 24 months have made it far too easy to focus on the darkness we’ve experienced, and to ignore the bright spots that peeked through that darkness.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to define 2021’s bright spots. In fact, it means we must try even harder to quantify the joy and wonder we felt; the triumphs, however small, that we achieved in the face of sometimes-overwhelming odds; and the grit and determination that seemed to make things better and gave us hope for the future.

During this busy holiday season, I hope you can find some time to sit down in a quiet place and write your own list of the “Bright Spots of 2021.” I’m sure the COVID-19 vaccines will top your list, as they do mine. My list also contains five bright spots that I believe will come to define 2021 for LeadingAge.

What makes these initiatives so bright in my view? They were intentionally designed to address key needs in our field and to help members strengthen their organizations as we emerge—hopefully soon—from our current health crisis. They include the following:

  • We launched the Opening Doors to Aging Services campaign to promote the value of the services and supports LeadingAge members provide. It felt great to take proactive steps to define our sector, rather than letting others, including the media, do that for us.
  • We made a good start in our quest to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of aging services. We developed resources to help members plan and implement DEI activities, welcomed students of color into our Summer Enrichment Program, and began working with UNCF to attract graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to leadership positions in our field.
  • We developed a vision for professionalizing our caregiving workforce. That vision calls for expanding the caregiver pipeline, enhancing training and education, facilitating career advancement, increasing compensation, preparing universal workers, and reforming the LTSS financing system.
  • With the help of members, we raised our voices in support of myriad policy reforms at the federal level, such as increasing the supply of affordable senior housing, providing COVID relief funds and support to our members, and strengthening the aging services workforce. Our 100 Days of Advocacy campaign culminated with our largest-ever Virtual Lobby Day, when 400 LeadingAge members held 302 virtual meetings with congressional offices.
  • We began work on a collection of governance resources to help member organizations strengthen their boards. Strong boards are the key to our success. We must give those boards the tools they need to help us navigate to our preferred future.

No list of 2021 Bright Spots would be complete without a nod to our members, who truly are our most important asset. After being separated for most of 2020, we felt blessed to gather with members in person at the Annual Meeting in Atlanta, and during numerous virtual gatherings, advisory group meetings, and workgroup sessions held on Zoom throughout the year.

This kind of engagement strengthens LeadingAge and every member organization. It makes it possible for us to work together to address important governance, diversity, leadership, and policy issues. And it would not be possible without you.

Thank you for your involvement in LeadingAge. I look forward to working with you to create many more bright spots in the coming year.

 

The Bright Spots of 2021

We probably consult more lists during the month of December than at any other time of the year. There are guest lists and grocery lists for holiday gatherings, lists of ideas for holiday gift-giving, and, of course, that all-important list of New Year’s resolutions that helps us close out the old year and ring in the new one.

I compile all of these lists every December, but I particularly enjoy consulting published lists of the most memorable events and achievements of the past year—particularly the highlights that pundits believe will come to define the previous 365 days. These lists often spur me to write my own list of the year’s bright spots—a fulfilling practice that combines equal portions of nostalgia and gratitude.

Sadly, though, this practice has been understandably difficult in 2021, as it was in 2020.

The sadness, anger, frustration, and plain exhaustion that have punctuated these past 24 months have made it far too easy to focus on the darkness we’ve experienced, and to ignore the bright spots that peeked through that darkness.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to define 2021’s bright spots. In fact, it means we must try even harder to quantify the joy and wonder we felt; the triumphs, however small, that we achieved in the face of sometimes-overwhelming odds; and the grit and determination that seemed to make things better and gave us hope for the future.

During this busy holiday season, I hope you can find some time to sit down in a quiet place and write your own list of the “Bright Spots of 2021.” I’m sure the COVID-19 vaccines will top your list, as they do mine. My list also contains five bright spots that I believe will come to define 2021 for LeadingAge.

What makes these initiatives so bright in my view? They were intentionally designed to address key needs in our field and to help members strengthen their organizations as we emerge—hopefully soon—from our current health crisis. They include the following:

  • We launched the Opening Doors to Aging Services campaign to promote the value of the services and supports LeadingAge members provide. It felt great to take proactive steps to define our sector, rather than letting others, including the media, do that for us.
  • We made a good start in our quest to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of aging services. We developed resources to help members plan and implement DEI activities, welcomed students of color into our Summer Enrichment Program, and began working with UNCF to attract graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to leadership positions in our field.
  • We developed a vision for professionalizing our caregiving workforce. That vision calls for expanding the caregiver pipeline, enhancing training and education, facilitating career advancement, increasing compensation, preparing universal workers, and reforming the LTSS financing system.
  • With the help of members, we raised our voices in support of myriad policy reforms at the federal level, such as increasing the supply of affordable senior housing, providing COVID relief funds and support to our members, and strengthening the aging services workforce. Our 100 Days of Advocacy campaign culminated with our largest-ever Virtual Lobby Day, when 400 LeadingAge members held 302 virtual meetings with congressional offices.
  • We began work on a collection of governance resources to help member organizations strengthen their boards. Strong boards are the key to our success. We must give those boards the tools they need to help us navigate to our preferred future.

No list of 2021 Bright Spots would be complete without a nod to our members, who truly are our most important asset. After being separated for most of 2020, we felt blessed to gather with members in person at the Annual Meeting in Atlanta, and during numerous virtual gatherings, advisory group meetings, and workgroup sessions held on Zoom throughout the year.

This kind of engagement strengthens LeadingAge and every member organization. It makes it possible for us to work together to address important governance, diversity, leadership, and policy issues. And it would not be possible without you.

Thank you for your involvement in LeadingAge. I look forward to working with you to create many more bright spots in the coming year.