I've been thinking about how civic life will change as a result of the pandemic. I call these thoughts "Take-a-Middles" because we are still in the midst of the crisis--but understanding our reality and imagining a future will help us build it well. Some ideas:
Remote as the new normal: Particularly for direct service organizations in the nonprofit sector, offering services remotely isn't practical, and many people have put themselves at risk to continue their work in communities.. However, many organizations are finding that they can get a surprising amount of good done virtually as well.
Greater understanding of the benefits of in-person: Even as we accept virtual work as a new norm, this time has been a pointed and sustained reminder of the power of face to face human connection, and how much we miss it when we can't have it. I have always believed that deep thinking and strategizing is best done in person, and I continue to believe so. During the shut-down, many of us are seeing that our work is missing something in both quality and effectiveness in the absence of basic human presence.
Wider awareness of systemic inequities: There has seldom been such a bright, persistent light shining on the many ways in which systems intersect and create inequality. The digital divide, instability of a gig economy, lack of access to health care, lack of sick time pay, understaffing in long term care facilities, shoddy protection of frontline health care workers, lack of quality child care availability, and more---these issues are what we mean when we talk about structural inequality. It has been this way all along, but the pandemic is exposing more people to these realities than ever before. #RadicallyHoping that this translates to action and change.
Opportunity to question the Grind Economy: The idea that we must work and produce constantly in order to "deserve" an income is deeply ingrained in the culture. Slowing down, opting out, or putting well being above the money grind is widely seen as lazy--unless you're rich, in which case you've "earned" it. As an incredibly smart friend pointed out, we keep saying that people need to get back to work, but really, what people need is financial support to get through this crisis until it is safe to resume their lives in the public sphere. Ideas like universal basic income and health care for all are, more than ever, worthy of wider attention.
At least at the moment, unity is an illusion. As I write, there are bitter and vicious social media streams debating whether it makes sense to take every available precaution to protect each other from getting dangerously ill. At the same time, people are putting signs in their windows saying "we'll get through this together". In the absence of unity, my hope is that we are able to fashion a functional country out of this, and a shared understanding of what it takes to govern with dignity--two things we don't have now. #RadicalHope
Sh*t's complicated. Cultures grounded in an anglo/white world view sure want things to be clear cut and simple. The world is complex, intertwined, difficult, paradoxical, and ever-shifting. We are getting a master class in living with uncertainty, with a situation that has no 100% good answers, in a vast expanse of grey instead of black and white. May we learn and grow. #RadicalHope
Please share your observations on what will endure from all this in the comments below. I wish you all a safe and healthy Middle time--and thanks to all of you who are holding it down out there.