February 2023

None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.

-Mother Teresa

January has been a busy month. I met with the Embodied Presence facilitators, Platform’s board members, and organizers for our adult and youth programs separately. All the meetings were fruitful in tackling the to-do list for 2023:

• Budget for 2023 and 2024

• Plans for the adult Embodied Presence (Spring) program

• Plans for the youth Activism@Work (Summer) program

• Possible Fall retreat

• Possible grant proposals

None of these are easy feats but unlike my previous efforts to grow Platform, I will be working with a great team of volunteers - organizers, facilitators, and board members. Their support is priceless because Platform does not yet have a substantial financial backing to run all the programs. Until we are able to raise the funds via successful registration for our adult program, grant proposals, and individual contributions, we have to rely on the amazing network of volunteers.

This year is pivotal because I will be focusing primarily on growing our finances so we can have a regular part-time staff next year. The staff will consist mainly of organizers who will be connecting with our community members throughout the year. Rather than just a last minute attempt to get people to register for our events, we will be partnering with local organizations to train their staff for leadership development. Will the partnerships impact the way we conduct our programs? Yes and no. I do not want to commercialize our programs to fit their diversity check-off needs but I do hope to develop relevant programs that can help organizations grow their staff. We want more self-aware leaders in our communities so we are better able to serve out community.

It is an exciting but also stressful time. We need to use and grow our resources wisely so we can make a greater impact.

Sam Joo

CEO and Founder

February 1, 2023