As we watch the progression of COVID-19, clearly it is time for us to acknowledge that we must cancel our next set of Second Tuesday Race Forum meetings.  Since we don’t meet during the summer months, we hope to resume on September 8, 2020.

In a few weeks the planning team (Dena, Angela, John, Jason, Eddie and Harold) intend to send you a set of resources that you can explore during this break.  And we hope to offer you some online challenges that can build on the racial justice skill set that is at the core of our mission.   Hopefully this period of uncertainty provides you some opportunities for rest and reflection – even in the midst of the economic pressures we will all face.

I want to share with you a thoughtful piece I read several years ago from The On Being Project.  It is a "The Disease of Being Busy."  I hope it will stimulate some meaningful reflections for you as it did for me.

There’s no way of knowing how our society will look post-COVID.  Many years ago Marshall McLuhan frequently advised us that a breakdown inevitably leads to breakthrough.  We usually resist significant change until the old systems utterly break down, hoping that minor adjustments will turn the tide.  When we can no longer think in straight lines it opens up different ways of grasping reality.

At Second Tuesday we have encouraged each other to imagine the kind of world we want to live in.  The coming months may help us shape that vision.

I’m happy to stay in touch with you until we get together again.  You can reach me directly at fuzzyfield@aol.com.  Please stay safe and healthy.

On behalf of the Planning Team,

Harold Fields