SPIRITED ’20

November 29, 2019

Dear Supporters and Friends,

This year has been like no other in our memory: Covid-19, school closures, economic hardship, social justice reckoning and political division. Amid the crisis, we at SPIRIT SERIES see a way forward. A path we have been traveling for 20 years. As many of you know, the SERIES was born from personal loss. And from our perspective, the adversity we now face as a nation offers us a rare chance. Now is the moment to reimagine the aims and methods of public education, to tend to the spirit of our children…and ourselves. Together, we can build resilience and self-efficacy in students, empowering them to meet — with confidence — the many challenges that lie ahead.

In our view, this is not just an opportunity. It is also an obligation. As Pope Francis concluded, in his Thanksgiving address to the world: “This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities — what we value, what we want, what we seek — and to commit to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of.” The posts below highlight our efforts to answer this call, celebrate the human spirit and build bridges to our common humanity. We hope they will inspire your continued generosity and support in this time of great need.

Many thanks,