President's Letters for Women In Development, NY - By Yolanda F. Johnson

The contributions of our Woman of Achievement honorees brings to mind the true spirit of April, which is National Volunteer Month.

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we want to celebrate all that has happened during the month of March for WID.

Here at WID, there has already been incredible programming and Black History Month has been an important time of reflection and community.

So, when the clock strikes midnight on my birthday, which comes just days after the New Year, I feel a resonant reset and a particular gratitude for having lived another year and look forward to what I might experience and accomplish in the year – and age – to come.

As we approach the end of the year, I find it is often a good time to look back over the experiences we have had in our lives and careers, as well as those experiences shared by the WID, NY community in 2021.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and enter the holiday season, I continue to stand in absolute gratitude for the WID Community and all that we continue to accomplish during what remains an uncertain time.

As we head deeper into the fall season, I must say just how proud I am of the WID community and of WID’s programming so far this program year, and share the joy it brings me to look ahead at what’s to come for the remainder of this year, and for next year.

Welcome to the Fall season and with it, the start of WID’s full program year!

Many in the WID community are pondering how future plans will actually come to fruition, and looking forward to a day we can all come together in-person again in a worry-free environment.

Summer is upon us, and with it, a good deal of reopening and looking ahead to what’s to come for our society, our sector, and for WID.

Being a midwestern transplant to the NYC area, I often refer to myself as a “pragmatic optimist.” I have a hopeful outlook on life, but I also like to take stock of realities and make good, strategic choices.

As we celebrate National Volunteer Month this April, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of incredible women who have contributed thousands of volunteer hours to countless WID programs and endeavors over our organization's more than 40-year history.

March 2021 marked milestones for many in the WID community.

In the spirit of our Inclusion, Equity and Diversity goals, I hope that you have noticed our efforts to showcase the wonderful things that WID and its members are accomplishing in this space. It is important to remember, but we should also not relegate our celebration of diversity and equity to one particular month.

…even in a year where we’re only a few weeks in and things have already had a rough start: there is still hope on the horizon.

What I really want to urge each of you to do as we bid 2020 farewell is to take a moment to acknowledge all that has happened in your own lives and careers. No sugar-coating, but a deep, brutally honest assessment of what truly happened, how it relates to you on a personal level, and how you feel about that.

As we head into Thanksgiving Week and with it, the holiday season, I want each member of the WID community to know how grateful I am to lead such an incredible organization.

Success is not only defined by meeting budgetary goals or the number of people who attend our programs, but also by the sense of community that is strengthened every time we come together, even in the virtual realm.

A very happy autumn to you all.

As we reflect upon the month of August, for me it brings to mind many things, including Black Philanthropy Month.

Racial injustice has brought our nation to its knees and I am hopeful that we will all rise again, toward a new and equitable future.

A special President’s Letter from the WID Diversity and Inclusion Task Force Final Report

Even during these strange times, the world continues to turn and the seasons continue to change.

What lies ahead is uncertain, but what we know for sure is that somehow, at some point, we will slowly-but-surely move forward.

Times have certainly changed with the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the fundraising and philanthropic communities, as well as society-at-large, are finding ways to navigate the literal distance between us now.

While no designated month should ever mean that we relegate ourselves to only focusing upon a group for those few weeks out of the year, I do believe that it is important to take the opportunity to shine a light upon important issues during that time.

Have you ever stopped to ponder, "What is my story?"

Indeed, I am proud to be a woman in development, and as I have also said before, there really is no other place like WID.

Indeed, this 40th Anniversary year is going to be incredibly special, and I look forward to celebrating with each of you.

Join us this year, as we remember WiD’s past, and celebrate her future.