Tomorrow night, we will turn the page on the calendar, waving goodbye to 2020 and welcoming in 2021. I am sure we can all agree that 2020 was unlike any other year. Our hearts go out to those who have become ill and those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Economic hardships are being experienced by so many in our families and communities, and existing systemic racism and social injustice was laid bare for all of us to witness. On top of those challenges, we faced a difficult wildfire season in California. Yet, amidst the turmoil, we celebrated births and the well-deserved retirements of beloved colleagues. We also kept our doors open to provide essential services to our consumers.

As I contemplated this message over the past weeks, I struggled to find the right balance between addressing the challenges we face and the hope for a brighter tomorrow. I have also come to appreciate that many of the major milestones in history have also coincided with other significant disruptions of everyday predictability, creating a time of transformation with great uncertainty, while at the same time leading to some of the most productive and prosperous of times.

We usher in 2021 expecting some of the more difficult times before us. Covid-19 transmissions are likely to increase after the holidays, and economic recovery is still off in the horizon. We also have much to look forward to. Vaccines are making their way to all of us, and the federal government has just approved additional stimulus to help blunt the hardships of so many. We hope and anticipate that each quarter will see us improving our condition personally and professionally.

As an organization, we have been tested by the events of our times, and I believe we will emerge stronger and better. The innovation and creativity seeded in 2020 will flourish and provide great bounty in the months and years to come. New approaches and ways of delivering our programs and services will continue to develop, and we will remain as committed and passionate as ever about employment, independence, and equality for every person with a disability who needs our services.

None of our success of the past year, despite the incredible hardships we have faced, would have been possible without you, your strength, and your dedication. In fact, the challenges we faced only strengthened our resolve and fueled our determination for a brighter tomorrow. On behalf of our consumers, providers, partners, and community, thank you!

Thank you for what you have done, thank you for what you are doing, and more importantly, thank you for what you will do to bring about a better future for all Californians with disabilities. I could not be prouder of each of you and of our organization.