SALA: A year later: What have we learned?

The last 12 months have brought disruption for which most of us were utterly unprepared:  the incomprehensible devastation of over 525,000 COVID-19 deaths domestically; a society more divided than ever, particularly along partisan lines.  Racial, ethnic, and economic inequalities dramatically exposed, further evidenced by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic.

Yet also resilience and innovation:  rapid development and deployment of multiple vaccines, emerging elements of a contactless and touchless society, advancements with predictive artificial intelligence programming, and – perhaps no surprise – a dramatic increase in filings for new businesses.

The result?  Heightened emotions, needs, and beliefs.  Our effort to “meet the moment” has led us to build out a purpose and mission-driven community of diverse leaders known as SALA (from the root of SALON).  With our new membership model and 1,000 individuals from across various sectors of society coming together for 175 digital sessions since last March, here’s some of what we’ve learned:

• Laugh Often.  Humor enhances shared experiences and builds camaraderie; delivering joy that is too often missing in the seriousness of adult life: How to Laugh at Work
• Get Uncomfortable.  Ask questions and truly listen; empathy can be learned and assumptions unlearned: How to Be More Empathetic  and The Fine Line Between Helpful and Harmful Authenticity
• No Time for Spectators.  Take action and connect with others who share common values; build one-to-one relationships and invest in community: America's Plastic Hour Is Upon Us

With an expansion of themed programming (e.g., our recent day-long celebration of International Women’s Day) and an ever-growing base of participants, we're embracing the wisdom of Margaret Mead who famously said: 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

If you haven't already, please join us @SALASeries on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.