Michael Mallory, LCSW Chicago District Chair
Hello Chicago District,
Thank you for joining me in our monthly update. It’s hard to believe that we are already in August and preparing for the end of summer; a summer many of us and our clients have been unable to enjoy due to the current circumstances of the world.
I assume that it is safe to say that the last few months have been beyond challenging and yet we are left with uncertainty of what is to come. It is hard to say how much more resiliency it will take in the world to continue to manage the pandemic all while maintaining hope that there may, someday, be a return to a ‘normal’ way of life. That said, our field is continuously being challenged to adapt and evolve to help serve those who are the most vulnerable while managing our own crises and needs. The uncertainty of what is to come only perpetuates the anxiousness of “what’s next.” To balance one’s own needs while caring for others is exhausting in itself and to continue doing it when many self-care outlets are unavailable only leaves us to run on empty. During this time, it is imperative to take that step back and to assess how you are doing and evaluate what you can do to help nurture yourself.
Managing the uncertainty is, probably, one of the most stressful things that we can do in this field. I feel that this field weathers uncertainty every year due to the fears of what funding may look like in the next year; how will we carry on our important work with the fear of less; what other catastrophe is looming; will our clients be ok; will our communities survive with the limited to no resources they have available; and what will my job look like in the next year… or month?
Although there are no concrete answers all we can do is consider what scenarios may exist so that we can start planning on them. That said, I want to share a helpful article with all of you. This article is from the Monitor Institute by Deloitte and is a resource for the Non-profit sector about strategic planning in the context of COVID-19. This document details 4 scenarios that our nation may face and the influence/impact it can have on non-profits / social sectors. I found it to be informative and insightful to what may lie ahead.
I hope all of you can take a mindful moment to seek out peace and joy in an effort to replenish some of yourselves.
In Solidarity,
Michael