As FSG moves forward along with the rest of the world into our new reality in the U.S., we wanted to share some reflections with our valued network of partners and clients.
What played out during the recent U.S. presidential election is consistent with themes that are playing out globally, and have been for some time. There is huge distrust of institutions that for the last 100 years have organized society, and the gap between rich and poor continues to widen to the detriment of the planet. A very large percentage of world citizens feel left out and left behind, and with good reason. People are being disenfranchised in many ways—including, as was given new voice in this most recent election, rural and ex-urban U.S. communities that have been adversely affected by technological advances and shifts in economic opportunity.
As a social change organization, FSG believes our work should be inclusive of everyone experiencing material loss and social, emotional, and physical displacement. At the same time we are also deeply committed to sharpening our focus on addressing entrenched and structural “isms”—especially racism, ethnocentrism, and sexism—that oppress people worldwide.
Despite the highly divisive nature of the U.S. election season, the current fissure is also exposing the great interdependence we all have with one another. This is a crucial time for all social change organizations to illuminate the connectivity and shared worlds that unite us all—across sectors, across geographies and most importantly, across ideologies.
There is a quality of strength inside each one of us working for social change that we can access in the times ahead. No matter the circumstances, let’s strive to be kind to ourselves, kind to others, and stalwart in our collective responsibility for attaining a more just and equitable world.
