President’s Message
Happy New Year! Do you have a tradition for the new year? I experienced Año Viejo, or “old year,” in Ecuador years ago. This is a tradition of making images that represent misfortunes of the past year, then burning them at midnight. It gave new meaning to “out with the old and in with the new.” This experience inspired me to say farewell to the tradition of making a new year’s resolution, only to beat myself up later when I didn’t keep it.
My new tradition is focused on picking a word for the upcoming year, a word that keeps coming to me when thinking of the new year. The word brings both hope for the new year and anticipation of how the chosen word reveals the year’s events through a different lens.
This past year, for example, my word has been “resilience.” Initially this word resonated with me because of COVID-19. Throughout the year, however, I found it brought strength during difficult times, such as unexpected health challenges in our family. When the political turmoil started to get me down or stressed, I recalled “resiliency,” reminding me that we will get through it.
For 2023, my word is HOPE.
For 2023, my word is HOPE. This word has been on my mind since our board retreat in October. After a year of many changes on the BWNA board and frustration with the Alameda/Fremont Greenway Diversion project process, the board came together to look to the future. The retreat provided us an opportunity to get to know each other, learn about our roles and responsibilities as board members, and look to the future by setting goals and identifying ways we can support our community and celebrate this great place we call home.
What do you hope to see in our neighborhood, and how can the BWNA board play a role in making that happen? Please let us know by sending a note to President@BWNApdx.org.