The opening song from The Lion King, Circle of Life, starts:
“From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done.”
My new niece, Mila Jane, was born in the afternoon on January 21, 2020. I was fortunate to be able to meet her less than 24 hours after she came into this world. As I held her that first day, I started to think about her future. She will start Kindergarten in 2025. She will enter high school in 2034. What will the world look like when these milestones occur? Will there be environmental changes in the world? What kind of technology will she use to perform her job? Will she be encouraged to enter fields like science, business, medicine, and athletics? Will she be paid at the same rate as a male in her field? Will the media instigate her to struggle with her body image?
I almost got overwhelmed by these questions and concerns about the future – about Mila’s future, but then I remembered about all of the amazing work being done by TEMPO Madison members to change things for the better. I thought about women like Sara Alvarado, who is the co-creator of Step Up: Equity Matters, a community organization committed to sparking conversations and creating change around inequities in the workplace and community. I considered that there are women like Fatou Ceesay, who take care of our vulnerable loved ones. I reflected on our members, including Sharyl Kato, Donna Ulteig, Nancy Fulton Young, and Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter, who are dedicated to serving people with mental health concerns and to removing the stigma associated with such mental health concerns. I remembered that our world includes women like Shannon Barry and Patti Seger, who work hard and dream of a world without domestic abuse. Finally, I thought about the countless hours of time, the enormous talent, and the large amounts of money that the women of TEMPO Madison contribute to improving our community. With all of the amazing ways in which TEMPO Madison members are working to make our world a better place, I feel much more comfortable with the world that Mila will inhabit.
Shana Lewis
President, 2019-2020