The new normal

In February 2020, staff leaders met to prepare our response to a “worst case scenario” in which COVID-19 reached our community. By late March, our staff had pivoted to working remotely while continuing to provide services to families in need. We reimagined ways to distribute food, helped families navigate newly created systems to deal with unemployment, and redeployed staff to cover for volunteer shortages.

As a result of George Floyd’s murder, Interfaith pivoted again to expand our understanding of systemic racism and led a community-wide training called One Community, Working Across Difference.

We will continue to be innovative in how we serve the needs of our community, building on the learnings and lessons from this past year. We will continue to ask the question, What if?

• What if everyone in our community was employed and earning a living wage?
• What if we could prevent hunger?
• What if there was affordable housing accessible to those who need it most?
• What if the academic achievement gap was actually closed because this community made sure every child and teen regardless of race, color, ethnicity or religious belief received the social, emotional and academic support necessary to be successful?
• What if we actually created a community where everyone counted and was thriving?

We cannot go back. This is the normal we need to create. Until we reach our mission, normal will no longer exist for us!

Your Executive Director,

Kevin Ward