This Year, Our Vision Can Be 2020

The diaspora runs on sustainable power. Where there was little prior to the early 20th century, there are now thriving communities full of philanthropic, educational, athletic and spiritual institutions. What is the source of this sustainable power? It is not the countless centers, churches, clubs and halls. They require funding and activity to be sustainable. They occupy the first and second floors of our dispersed life. What is the foundation? It’s not a trick question. The answer is you and the thousands like you. You power the engine that provides the financing, the creative thought, the participation and yes…the vision.

One definition calls vision the “ability to see and plan for the future with imagination and wisdom.” Wow. Imagine if we were able to hit a home-run against that definition in every community, every institution and every generation. Sometimes it is easier to understand these attributes if we imagine their absence. The lack of vision leads to the draining of the battery that powers the community—stagnation, fatigue, conflict and obligatory behavior. 2020 needs to be the year we sharpen our vision.