We Do Not Stand Idly By

These past days have been incredibly challenging to see, watch, read about, hear, live through...the whole gamut of emotions were felt.

Viscerally. 

Emotionally. 

Even physically.

I've had a tough time sleeping this week because my mind is racing with questions and concerns. 

My kids had all kinds of questions and concerns as well. Never easy to answer, not easy to quell.

While I cannot speak for you all and will not, what I promise to do is FEEL your pain, your discomfort, your fear, rage, confusion. Again, the whole gamut. 

I validate those feelings and take comfort in the fact that we ALL likely feel something.

So no doubt we each witnessed these past days through a different lens, with a different set of life experiences that shape who we are and what we dream to be. 

As individuals, as a community, as part of society.

I do not know where this goes from here.

But it does inspire the simple well-tread question, “If not now, when?” 

And by the way... 

“If not US, then WHO?"

This call reinforces the idea that we must not stand idly by. 

And I do not believe that we do.

I take solace in the fact that at Exceptional Minds, we are part of a deeply ambitious organization that works every day to NOT stand idly by. 

We effect change in lives that will forever be impacted by a team of selfless humans. By participation in something bigger than ourselves.

I am proud to be part of a team who is able to answer that well-tread question with confidence:

We are doing it NOW. We are doing it TOGETHER.

We will not be able to answer every question or quell every concern. 

But, we can continue holding one another to a standard of excellence and commitment that reverberates far beyond our view. 

One that demonstrates a blend of kindness, vulnerability, empathy, equity, and inclusion that keeps Exceptional Minds leading the way toward profound change.

With that, let’s look to today and the "virtual" graduation of our Exceptional Minds class of 2020, as a chance to pedestal the hard work, perseverance, and resilience of a group of individuals whose boundless power and magic is needed more than ever.

Please stay safe.

David Siegel, Exceptional Minds

The Exceptional Minds Virtual Graduation Ceremony live streams today at 2:30 PST: