Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Alisha Janes, Assistant Town Manager, Winter Park Colorado (Twitter & LinkedIn)
What I am reading: Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
What I am listening to: All of the Brené Brown Podcasts
It is profoundly strange to be a new to an organization in 2020, but I guess no stranger than it is to do anything else in 2020.
I had about 6 weeks under my belt in my new job before the Covid closure wave truly hit. Little did I know how grateful I would be for those 6 weeks as a mooring to help navigate what was coming next. Fortunately I had chances to still collaborate with my new colleagues amidst the stay-at-home order, otherwise I’m not sure I would have been able to be very effective, in my state of still trying to learn the basics of a new community and organization in the midst of so much uncertainty.
Yet, being so new also gave me a unique perspective. I learned very quickly how special the supportive culture is here and how community values are lived. I got to dive in quickly to meaningful work and forge strong relationships seemingly overnight.
And yet I had to meet a ton of people online and in some ways my learning of the organization will be slower. There will be things I just cannot understand fully until I see them for myself, maybe in 2021?
I am grateful for having fresh eyes in this moment. I do not know what normal really was here, so I am hopeful that I can help see the future more clearly since I do not simultaneously have to mourn the past of some well-loved events or services. In many ways, being new still leaves me on equal footing with my new team since the present environment makes everything new for us all.
And just as I am trying to be purposeful with my fresh eyes in this moment, I am hopefully that we can welcome the other fresh eyes joining us soon in local government. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments should result in fresh eyes joining us soon. Just as Covid has opened our eyes to a new normal, so too should this moment in racial justice momentum bring forward a new normal where we should all be charting new territory together. The best part of working in local government is being able to work with incredibly dedicated public servants, who better to help set new seats at the table?