A Wednesday Word From The Director | Nothing Was The Same.

Dear Community,

We’ve reached another Wednesday during what seems like week one hundred fifty thousand of a global pandemic. The days have seemed to blur together into one continuously long time block of time. And even though the weather is finally (finally) warming up, the effect and impact of COVID-19 on our local, national, and global communities continues to loom ominously over our present and future. New York State remains in Phase I of reopening with social distancing and masks still in place but from the looks of things on the news, on social media, and in my immediate community America’s short attention span makes it look like the virus has “miraculously” vanished over night. Of course deep down we all know this is not the case yet so many are carelessly and callously disregarding the facts and choosing to do what they want how they want.

Not much has changed for me or for 540WMain. The 540Team continues to work from home (typing this blog from my bed) and our organization remains 100% online for the foreseeable future. My family and I remain as vigilant as humanly possible to continue to stop the spread through physical distancing, only leaving the house for close to home exercise, spending time in our yard and porches, and when it is absolutely necessary. I  visit 540WMain 1-2 times each week to check the mail, water our plants and most recently clean and reorganize the space.

I recognize the immense privilege that I have to be able to weather this pandemic with relative ease and not a moment goes by that I am sharing prayers of gratitude for the ability to follow the directions of local and state governments. I also recognize the immense sacrifice of so many that continue to be underpaid, overlooked, and disrespected because they have to work outside of home to take care of their own needs, the needs of their families, and the needs of everyone else. Many of these folks are young Black, Latino and women. This period has afforded many moments of deep personal reflection and thinking about the future. So many plans, notes, and ideas are being recorded and mulled over. I am wholly and fully planning for a world that looks drastically different from the one that we encountered prior to the pandemic and I am using this time to process and prepare for new ways of being. It is heartwarming to me that so many of you are doing the same but even still I cannot shake the lack of faith in humanity that I continue to have as I also see so many willfully putting themselves and others at risk, virus be damned. Not much about how people are responding during this time is surprising to me but choose to focus on the things I can control has helped me keep a realistic but also hopeful outlook. I hope that you can too. Keep your self as safe and healthy as realistically possible for you.

With Love,

Calvin | Founding Director

During these uncertain times a 540Monthly Membership ensures that 540WMain is able to create multi-media content, virtual classes, and educational programming rooted in and taught from a social justice and anti-racism perspective. If you love 540WMain consider becoming a 540Monthly member for a little as $3/month.