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Last week I happened to listen to Meghna Chakrabarti on NPR's On Point show as she reflected on 2020. After a year like no other, she challenged her listeners with a question for 2021: "Who will we become?"
2020 revealed to many of us to the deep fissures in our society. Although we know that these inequities exist, many of didn't realize their depth. Chakrabarti put it bluntly: in 2021 we cannot return to business as usual. Instead, she calls on us to think of 2021 as a year of becoming. How do we become the society we want?
There are so many challenges we face: from hunger to racism to housing insecurity to poverty. And transforming our system won't be straightforward or easy. But, it has always been our organization's belief that our local trees will help us become the society we aspire to. This is because trees embody our values of empathy, care, and a shared humanity. Trees provides us a space and a way to develop a system that nurtures us, respects differences, develops resilience, and joins us together for a shared purpose.
The work ahead in 20201 is daunting for us all. The Tree Equity work of our organization is just a small piece of a much larger social movement underfoot. And, while we don't claim that trees are the answer, in 2021 we will continue to work in solidarity to make sure that our work around trees is relevant, impactful, and rooted in mutual respect and care.
In two days we depart on the good ship 2021. We ask that you take a moment with us to reflect: Who will we become in 2021? And it is our hope that by 2022, with our trees and with you, we together will become a society that is more equitable, caring, and respectful.
Have a safe and healthy New Year from us all at Speak for the Trees,
David Meshoulam
Executive Director
Our work of "becoming" together is nurtured by your support. We hope you consider making an end-of-year donation and help us build a more equitable future for all Boston residents.
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