Globally Connected, Locally Resilient: An IofC USA Response on Covid-19
As a global organization with over 1,200 program alumni, community partners and stakeholders located in more than 60 countries, Initiatives of Change USA (IofC USA) is staying abreast of the emerging and rapidly evolving developments happening around the COVID-19 pandemic locally, nationally, and internationally. We are aware of the myriad effects this presents to our global communities and greater needs around empathy, adaptation, communication, accompaniment, and collaboration. As a team, Initiatives of Change USA stands in solidarity with our global alumni around the world – Caux Scholars Program Switzerland, Caux Scholars Program – Asia Plateau and the Narrative Change Collaborative and Community Trustbuilding Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia.
The COVID-19 outbreak presents us with all new circumstances including the cancellation of the 2020 Caux Forum and Caux Scholars Program in Switzerland and the postponement of Module 3 for the Community Trustbuilding Fellowship.
However, we also see opportunities for resilience. This is a moment when we are experiencing conflict transformation in real time - a moment that connects us. Let it not connect us through fear but through empathy and care for one another.
While perhaps requiring new patterns of “social distancing,” this also creates an opportunity for deep reflection on our history and shifts in our thinking and action – a chance to collaborate in new ways. We carry the Initiatives of Change spirit within ourselves. By looking inwards, we see there are a wealth of creative capacities within us and between us. This is the time to share our resources in knowledge and resiliency with one another in love, care and empathy. Our staff is also available to you should you need to check in.
Now is a time to show the generosity that has always defined IofC by reaching out to friends, families, neighbors and the many elders within IofC’s global community who may be particularly vulnerable during this time. Alumni are encouraged to take this time to reach out to others online, by phone or messaging apps and check in, provide solidarity, well wishes and heartful energy.
This is a time to identify and show compassion for what people in armed conflict zones and other vulnerable environments - many within our network - face every day. Let us reflect on what we are experiencing right now - the constantly changing scenarios, the persistent disruptions, the ramping up of fear and anxiety - and how this can deepen our connection and understanding for those communities who live resiliently amidst this reality every day.
For IofC USA, today has been about recognizing the adaptive demands of this immediate moment and redesigning how we exist this year and beyond. We are committed to creatively sustaining peace in the midst of storm, to activating resilience within ourselves and our relationships. Our team is currently working on a design process and programmatic approach to develop regular connection points for our global alumni and partner communities. These points can spread connection to break up isolation, transform historical harms, and limit the fear and anxiety we are currently experiencing.
We look forward to sharing regularly accessible content such as a webinar and livestream series featuring a roster of multidisciplinary experts, trainers, artists, and alumni as well as Zoom call check-ins and access to valuable online resources.
Our office, located in Richmond, Virginia, will follow local and state emergency protocols and our staff are teleworking over the course of the next two weeks. This is in an effort to ensure the health and protection of our staff members, partners and visitors.
We will collectively move to make 2020 a year we later remember for the emergence of new creative pathways that brought us all closer together. We invite you to contact us and stay tuned for future program and event updates via our website, www.us.iofc.org.
In health, peace, love, and solidarity,
The Initiatives of Change USA Team