Blog

Reflecting back on the highlights of an entire year feels like a rather daunting task. This is mostly true because as my brain fills up over the years, I find I sometimes forget important stuff. This is one reason it’s occurred to me that the marketing department asks me to write blogs when everyone is busy doing things other than reading blogs. So for the three of you with enough to time to continue reading, here are my reflections on 2016 and what they mean for the New Year.

There is just no getting around the fact that we had national elections this year and, well, that might be enough said about that. Seriously, I am occasionally asked about the implications for workforce development and our Agency. I can assure you, with complete certainly, that absolutely nobody knows the answer to that question. It is true, that funding for workforce development is generally greater under Republican administrations than Democratic ones, and that Congress continues to tuck skills (re)training language into countless pieces of seemingly unrelated legislation. That said, whoever thought we would have sequestration? Come to think of it, did any of us even know what that word meant a couple of years ago? Workforce development has long enjoyed bi-partisan support (sequestration notwithstanding) and the funding to go with it so, at best, we will remain cautiously optimistic on this score while hedging our bets.

In addition to hedging our bets, the changes underway at the national level are also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to walking-the-talk regarding our mission. We know there will be changes affecting our work so what better time to re-ground ourselves in the values that inform our work’s priorities? At Able, this means choosing strategies that deliver high-integrity, compassionate service and meeting each client wherever he or she may be. It will undoubtedly require an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to extend a hand to other non-profits when one is needed.  The start of 2017 will bring some significant changes at Able. We are transitioning our senior services from the east coast to the mid-west with all the good news and bad that such changes entail. We also expect to post another winning year of results in our Chicago-area workforce programs including the fast-growing IT Career Lab. We have many new staff to welcome and a mind-boggling number of changes in and around our human resources department. And in 2016, the National Able Network board of directors helped deliver our most successful fundraiser ever; but sadly said a final farewell to former chair, Trent Richards, who passed away just this month.

This time of year meets many of us with waves of emotions that can range from profound joy to feelings of despondence.  It’s almost as if the highs and lows of a crazy year get crammed into the little slice of time that is left in 2016 for one last pass at our hearts. And if you are feeling left out because the season is unfolding one plodding day at a time for you, just think about how it felt to win the World Series and elect Donald Trump at pretty much the same time.

There’s a reason for this:  It allows us to capture all those errant feelings, put them in the box we call “2016,” and place them on a shelf. It allows us to look forward and step into 2017 unburdened, with a blank page and the freedom to make whatever we want of the New Year. Warm wishes for a happy, healthy New Year of love and service.