On March 12, 2020, the Flagship Class of 2020 visited the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management Command Center as part of their Law & Public Safety Day. They toured the dispatch center where emergency management stakeholders gather in case of an emergency. 

 

Within a couple of days, the community witnessed briefings by the County Executive from that very location as we embarked on this year-long COVID-19 crisis. We had no idea how deep and how long the crisis would run. We began day by day to pivot and adapt, committed to flattening the curve. We masked and distanced and washed hands. Spring turned to summer, then to fall, then to winter. Four seasons of COVID-19. Flagship and NLA 2020 classes graduated virtually and Flagship and NLA 2021 classes embarked on their unique program experiences. Many LAA graduates have spent the year on the front lines of pandemic response.

 

Much has been threatened or lost. Loved ones, livelihoods and lifestyles. Simple pleasures we took for granted. And yet much has survived and even thrived in this unprecedented year of challenge. New simple pleasures discovered. Now, a new spring is upon us. As we thaw from winter, and vaccinations pick up their pace, we eagerly spring forward to recover and reconnect, safely in-person, as we are able.

 

LAA programs have begun to return to at least partial in-person sessions and look to wrap up our program years with full in-person days (if possible). We are cautious and tentative (we'll see how it goes), continuing to take temperatures and mask and wash hands. 

 

We must find ways to connect again in-person. And yet we're all a bit rusty. (Remind me, how does one dress for in-person meetings again? How much time do we need to leave for travel beyond our home-office or living room? How will my dog survive at home alone all day?)

 

Recently LAA was fortunate to welcome Andrew Freedman of SHIFT for a Leadership Speaker Series on maximizing human potential and creating positive change. So much is still sinking in from our powerful session. 

 

A few phrases and ideas stay front of mind. The first, a quote from Sara Bareilles: "I know you miss the world, the one you knew, the one where everything made sense." Orpheus - Sara Bareilles

 

Yet we were cautioned against trying to return to a "normal" that no longer exists and acknowledged together that "people are out of surge capacity".

 

We discussed digging into what we want to remember from this current situation, before chasing the life we used to know. What have we learned? What can we take from this year of struggle to build back better?

 

Andrew closed with an African Proverb, one of my favorite sayings, and one that is truly apropos with the LAA experience: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

 

As the snow to melts from the daffodils, I look forward moving forward with the LAA Community, beyond the COVID crisis. We have a great many opportunities to “go together” in the coming weeks. To join us, in-person and online, follow us on Facebook and check out the Community Calendar.