By Brandi Howard
As we approach the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, I am reflecting on the darkness of the last few decades and the light we will need to find our way forward. From 9/11 and the Great Recession to the COVID pandemic, our communities have felt the weight of each successive crisis. Like me, you may be wondering how we climb out of this moment when we are exhausted from all that we’ve already been through.
Most of us are carrying a great deal of fear about the future, and many of us are going into “fight” mode. But if we plan from a place of fear, we give our power away. And if we only prepare ourselves for what we are fighting against, instead of what we are fighting for, we’ve already lost. We need a positive vision, too. We need the light.
When thinking about the trajectory of events in my lifetime, I also think about the trajectory of EBCF’s nearly 100 year history. Through recessions and booms, elections and recalls, regardless of who has held office, EBCF has been here to advance our collective good. We are a constant in the chaos, fostering connection, care, and community in the face of change.
Funders use the word “community” so often that we can forget what it really means. As a third generation Oaklander, a mom, and now the President and CEO of EBCF, community is central to everything I do. Community means real people. It means young people struggling to dream of a positive future. It means that mom selling fruit on the side of the road with her children in tow. It means that father who is pushed out of his family’s home because he can’t afford rent on his low-wage job.
To be effective in the fight, we can’t just be theoretical about policy and politics. We have to be proximate to community – to people. The threats to our community and our democracy are real, but we must always ground ourselves in who and what we are fighting for and never forget that. Because it is our community’s light that will see us through.
Here is my invitation to you: Pause over the holidays. Take the time you need to reground yourself in who you are. Hold your people close. Then as we welcome the return of light and the new year, make a plan for how you will have an impact. While the world may feel chaotic and dark, EBCF is your community foundation, and we are here to light a pathway for you to make positive impacts in our community.
Most importantly, please stay connected in 2025. Together, we will continue to make the East Bay a refuge that upholds our values of equity, fairness, and care for our fellow community members. And together, we will continue to fight for an East Bay where everyone can dream, heal, and belong.
