The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as an airborne virus released during any form of respiration. This virus literally exists in the air we breathe. We have learned much of ways to prevent, treat, and immunize ourselves against the virus. I am certain we will continue to learn more.
For me, a key lesson highlighted during the pandemic is how highly interdependent we are as human beings. COVID-19 has shown that while we all occupy a partial place, we also share a common space called earth with a very delicate ecosystem that sustains life. We learned from this pandemic that what we breathe into the air can travel across the globe and impact any one of us. Despite how physically far away and how different we may think we are – we share the same air.
This is a lesson we are privileged to see each day in One Family Illinois. In a Village, my actions and interactions will and does impact others. Fundamentally, we breathe hope, healing, and motivation for each child to maximize their human potential. We do this by honoring diversity and ensuring inclusion of every person, no matter what race, ethnicity, orientation of other differences we may think exist. We look to reverence our fragile natural resources that allows us to breathe together and ensure sustainability for future generations. Most importantly, we know we cannot do this alone.
Each of you, donors, friends, and volunteers have actively engaged with this critical mission to fill the air we all share with great promise for the future.
We all share the same air. We all want to ensure each child can live, breathe, and grow with us to maximize their human potential. This is what will keep our world healthy and thriving. Although the future as it relates to COVID-19 is somewhat unknown, we can see the burden we all have felt lifting. We can take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and feel a sigh of relief. As a community we have stood strong. Thank you for being part of this important mission.