A blog from Maceo Thomas, Membership Coordinator
Recently, I was reading President Biden’s plan “Build Back Better”. A portion of the plan struck me:
The pandemic has also laid bare some unacceptable truths. Even before COVID-19, the Trump Administration was pursuing economic policies that rewarded wealth over work and corporations over working families. Too many families were struggling to make ends meet and too many parents were worried about the economic future for their children. And, Black and Latino Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and women have never been welcomed as full participants in the economy.
Biden believes this is no time to just build back to the way things were before, with the old economy’s structural weaknesses and inequalities still in place. This is the moment to imagine and build a new American economy for our families and the next generation.
An economy where every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead. An economy more vibrant and more powerful precisely because everybody will be cut in on the deal.
When I tell people about WES, I like to direct them to the Mission Statement and especially this part:
We strive through our relationships to elicit the best in the human spirit. With faith in human goodness, we appreciate each person’s unique capacities. We joyfully celebrate together and support each other through life. We nurture a sense of reverence and responsibility for each other and the earth.
What I have come to learn about WES is many members were first introduced to WES when they felt they were not able to be full participants in other communities that focused on the human spirit. WES offered a home to those of diverse backgrounds; atheists, agnostics and theists alike, to participate fully. A community was formed that landed eventually on 16th & Kalmia.
Just like our national economy, communities across the country (and world) have gone through upheaval over the last 15 months. In September, the WES Re-Opening Committee expects the WES community can begin to participate in person, while we also continue virtual activities. Yet, to make this a reality, we have to all realize this is not a time to build back the way things were before. People have changed in so many ways in the last 15 months. Responsibilities have changed. Motivations have changed. People have lost loved ones. Imagining WES in September as the doors open, will take participation from everyone on how to build back better. Not only do we need volunteers at the front doors as greeters/ ushers/ welcome team to make sure everyone safely enters the building; we also need support in our classrooms to support the youth ethical education that happens. Last week the tech team wrote about their needs for volunteers in order to make sure WES is accessible to all.
Although I use the word “volunteer”, please read it as “community”. These last 15 months have been a test in flexibility, durability and innovation. It is not over. In order for us to return to our physical presence with each other, everyone has to evaluate their personal and family resources of time, energy, creativity and human spirit and determine how to give so WES can build back better.
As you imagine and want to discuss feel free to reach out to me at maceot@ethicalsociety.org.
-Maceo