Dear VISIONS Community,

As we move into May, I’ve been reflecting on the resilience it takes to hold steady during times of uncertainty—and the quiet, persistent hope that still fuels our work. This season has not been easy. We continue to feel the ripple effects of a chilling political climate, funding hesitations, and the national retrenchment from equity work. And yet, here we are: still showing up, still centering healing across difference, still building relationships that matter.

Hope, in this context, isn’t naive. It’s strategic. It’s a commitment to seeing what’s possible even when systems seem resistant to change. It’s the daily choice to support people—our clients, our partners, and one another—in navigating complexity with integrity.

So, what does it mean to keep going—especially when the road gets harder? So many of us feel the shift in the air. Hard-won gains around equity, inclusion, and dignity are under pressure. The systems we’ve (sooo many of you) worked so hard to shape are being reshaped, often in ways that feel like steps backward.

AND, this is also where our deepest work begins.

At VISIONS, we talk about what it means to stand up within and against systems that weren’t built for everyone. When the system shuts the door, we don’t just find a window—we name the injustice, we hold the door open for others, and we work to rebuild the structure entirely. It’s not just about surviving the system—it’s about transforming it.

Right now, that’s what so many of you are doing. Quietly. Boldly. Together.

• You’re finding creative ways to keep inclusive practices alive.
• You’re holding space for one another—emotionally, strategically, and relationally.
• You’re helping us reimagine our own sustainability, including exploring a new membership model that could keep this work accessible and alive, even when external support wanes.

This is human work. It’s personal. Interpersonal. Institutional. Cultural.

I’ve learned that progress doesn’t always come through the systems as they are—it comes through how we choose to show up anyway. Through our small acts of courage, connection, and creativity.

This month, we’re deepening conversations about what sustainability looks like for VISIONS—both financially and relationally. We’re exploring a membership model that would allow us to stay connected to the people we’ve trained, coached, and collaborated with over the years. It’s one way we’re reimagining how our impact can continue even in uncertain times. [If you are interested in seeing the Survey Monkey we are sending out, please see here, and feel free to respond, as well.]

As always, I want to thank each of you for your commitment, your care, and the energy you bring to this work. Whether you’ve been facilitating sessions, preparing proposals, supporting logistics, or holding space for a colleague, you are part of what makes VISIONS who we are.

Thank you for continuing to be part of that legacy. We’re still here. We’re still building. And we’re not done yet.

Let’s continue forward—with hope as our strategy, and with each other as our foundation.

Warmly,