Our Work is to Instill Hope, And we are going to need each other to do so

As we move into February, we have already been through what seems like a year of change. We saw the cancellation and then reinstatement of an app that over 170 million Americans used, some nearly daily. We saw many of those people flock to and learn from another app, based in China, where they were welcomed and offered empathy for the state of average American experience concerning living expenses and healthcare. We got a new president. That came with a whole slew of executive orders and the beginning of actions made to meet the goals of the government's new positions on a number of matters that will change the way this country functions and recognizes the people who live here.

People have been through a rollercoaster of emotions during the last month. It has directly affected adults and, secondarily, children. One can only assume that in the coming months and years, some ways our country and communities will change will directly affect children. Since we work in the service of children, we carry the weight of ensuring that they still thrive, even in the face of changes and in a world where they have direct access to the knowledge and emotions of adults navigating many of these things for the first time.

We are all aware that the Montessori philosophy has a profound mission. Among all the work we do to impart skills, grow intellectual curiosity, and develop strong social-emotional intelligence, our primary goal is to create a more peaceful world. The things we do now can effect change for everyone's benefit in the future. To do this, we need to remember that here and now, we need to instill hope. Our work at this time, for all members of our community, is to instill hope that things can and will move toward our greater goal. And to serve the children, we must also serve our community of adults.

So, how do we combat all the challenges that come with adults' feelings about all that we are facing as a society? Well, we start with the development of a strong community. This is true both at school and in our personal life communities, but it's especially important in a place where children depend on us to thrive. It's a part of the preparation of the adult. The idea that someone can prepare themselves as an adult if the world around them is scary and becoming a place where they may not feel safe is absurd. People need to feel safe and cared for in the place where we aim to honor and develop children. They need to have hope that they can still have some of their fundamental needs met there, regardless of what changes outside the doors. It is a similar case for families. They may not necessarily get their fundamental needs met at school, but they invite us to offer some of those things to their children. Therefore, we must make sure that they know that our spaces continue to be ones where their children can reach their full potential because we honor every part of who they are and will continue to support their agency and self-advocacy and give them the freedom to process things as they grow and develop.

Those who work directly with children know how important it is to help them process all the information they hear from the various adults in their lives. With that comes worry, fear, overwhelm, and anxiety. They need to see that the adults around them are confidently able to stand in their truths, feel cared for and connected, and that there are people in the community who will be there in their time of need.

Let's consider some questions whose answers might address how we can instill hope and connection among our community members.

For Faculty & Staff:

• What systems and structures do you have in place or maybe need to reexamine or uplift to ensure your team's care and safety?

• What is your strategy for ensuring everyone knows what you offer in support, care, time off, job protection, etc?

For Families:

• What messaging are you using to ensure everyone knows your mission and vision, your values, and how you create a space of safety for honoring children?

• What does your strategic plan say about the future?

For Children:

• What preparation do faculty and staff have to have honest conversations with children to aid in their processing of information?

• What cultural norms do classrooms hold that create normalcy, promote your values, and honor the diversity within them?

For All:

• What storytelling tactics do we use to communicate our shared values?

• How do we lean into our social responsibility for creating belonging among all our members?

• What opportunities do all community members have, or what opportunities can be created for people to step outside their role and into service within the greater community?

In order to curate and create the types of spaces that will allow us to forge ahead and ensure that our children can still see hope in their future, it is imperative that we find the ways that we are tied together and strengthen those bonds. Where there is community, there is hope.

As always, if you need support as you go down this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am a free consult away. I am with you during this work and along the journey.

With gratitude,

Hannah