For Wichita to Flourish, We Must First Lead Ourselves.
A letter from 2020 Chair Damon Young
2020 has been a shared awakening of our mortality, of our frantic pace and of lingering injustices. Many of our systems are failing, and the perceived mistrust of authority is at an all-time high. We find ourselves in a collective huddle considering what to do next.
This judgement applies to everyone – to individuals, churches, businesses, non-profits and governments. If this is our best, then it is not good enough. Our individual and collective consciences compel us to cry out for more: more justice, more compassion, and more civility and discourse.
This is a time of great consequence. We will look back in a generation and pray that we engaged with our best and fullest selves.
Let us first embrace self-leadership and our freedom to model the change we want to see in this world. We can complain about the speck in the eye of our neighbor or political rival, but it is more vital to remove the log from our own. In so doing, I pray we discover the beauty and humility needed in our shared humanity. We are broken and flawed, but our faith guides us to grow in our grace and strive for authentic change in our lives.
The danger of avoiding self-leadership is living in an echo chamber of self-righteousness, convinced we are right, stripped of our influence and reduced to negative tactics. Real transformation comes when we humble ourselves first, listen, learn and then try again. And try again we must!
Let us next prepare to serve, with patience, in areas that our heart and conscience compel us. It is ok to ‘hope for what we cannot yet see,’ but let us not grow weary. Start by volunteering and serving where you see the need. Do so in a manner that honors and absorbs the lessons of those that have gone before you. If you are a leader in a system, have the patience to hear and serve the new voices in the room. Take advantage of their energy, educate them on what you have tried and be willing to try new approaches. When we dismiss, we are easily dismissed. Real power comes through humble, grace-filled service and discourse.
Leadership is as an opportunity to lift others and create an environment where they can flourish. By modeling humble self-leadership and embracing patient service, we can lift one another and take a step forward together.
For the flourishing of our city and region,
Damon Young
2020 Lead Wichita Chairman