By Lori Britt
If it seems like a long time since we have shared an ICAD update with our supporters and partners, that is because it has been. But trust us, we have been hard at work continuing to shape spaces were people can gather, online or in person, to productively address the challenges facing organizations, commmunities, our nation, and our world..
We will be sharing some highlights of what we have accomplished this past year with you in the next few weeks, and telling you about initiatives we are proud to be shaping and planning.
Over the past year, even with the limitations of the pandemic, the ICAD team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students have designed and facilitated conversations on racial equity, on the college realities of different generations, on understanding and creating spaces for the cultural celebration of Día de Los Muertos, addressing the challenges of housing accessibility and affordability in Harrisonburg, and bringing together college students across the nation to deliberate solutions for issues such as climate change, policing reform, and educational opportunities.
We have helped groups and organizations craft visions and strategies and build cohesive teams, and helped both regional and global efforts embrace practices that promote effective and innovation collaboration.
One goal we have this year is to better tell our story to offer inspiration about what is possible when we intentionally shape the spaces where we talk and think together to gain from all voices and perspectives. And of course we will continue to be honest about the ways our practices need to continue to evolve in ways that promotion inclusion and justice.
So here’s to 2022 and all of the stories to share and the possibilities to shape.