As your college president and representative of NVC leadership, I want to speak words of compassion to all NVC employees in regards to COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. From these, flow many other issues that we as a community and as a nation are trying to address. I want to let you know that it’s okay to be silent and reflect. It’s okay to cry and it’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be.
Two months ago, my older brother lost a brave battle with COVID-19. I feel enormous compassion for all those families whose health or those of their loved ones has been impacted by the coronavirus. With more than 21,546 known COVID-19 cases in San Antonio and more than 3.6 million in the U.S., our NVC families of students, faculty and staff are being impacted. Not everyone shares, has to share nor is in the position to share their family struggles publicly. They are feeling pain and pain changes people. How we change and in which direction we proceed will impact everyone around us.
NVC has come a long way in beginning to address Black Lives Matter and issues of equality and inclusion. I am thankful to be alive and witness the changes that are taking place, no matter how painful the journey. It is our journey and we need to own it. I am hopeful and pleased to see new individuals taking on the charge and being empowered to leadership roles in NVC’s work toward anti-racism and change. In the coming weeks and months, you will see invitations to discussions and action plans. These calls to action are for everyone on our campus. We don’t want anyone to feel excluded. I invite you to take on the challenge and join us in the journey toward a more compassionate NVC.
For the moment, I hope we can reflect on the following words:
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh from his book, “Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life.”