Extraordinary leadership needed

Almost three months ago, the COVID-19 pandemic began highlighting the systemic and institutional racism in the United States even more. More recently, George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery’s death in Georgia in February, and Breonna Taylor’s death in Kentucky in March have emphasized the tragic results of these systems across the country. We have seen Christian Cooper’s encounter in New York City as yet another example. As our communities engage in protest, and yes, some in destruction, our world seems more on edge than ever.

Our communities are hurting and divided, and it will take extraordinary leadership to heal our communities and enable reform and evolution of these systems. It will take extraordinary leadership to enable trust to be built for the first time or in some cases built again. It will take extraordinary leadership to recognize that our systems and policies have led to anger and disenfranchisement in our communities of color. It will take extraordinary leadership to understand that fear and ignorance can be overcome with engagement and empathy. It will take extraordinary leadership to listen to the extraordinary leadership of the oppressed.

For 35 years, RYASAP has engaged with our communities to build on the assets and potential from within our communities in spite of systemic barriers. We have advocated and engaged local police, government and community leaders to solve and fight inequity. We have seen extraordinary leadership in youth. We have seen extraordinary leadership in the formerly incarcerated, and we have seen extraordinary leadership in all income levels, genders, races and combinations thereof. In these challenging times, our experience with this leadership gives us hope.

We can come together to drive change through extraordinary leadership. We have to. Our communities are hurting.

Marc Donald Executive director Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership