Embracing Agility and Adaptability: Forging an Inclusive Future in Our Diverse World
“Sometimes we are blessed with being able to choose the time, and the arena, and the manner of our revolution, but more usually we must do battle where we are standing.” — Audre Lorde
In 2025, 40 years after the creation of the iconic song “We Are The World,” I find myself reflecting on the past, acknowledging our role in the present, and affirming our hope for future generations. We stand at a pivotal moment in history, facing a choice — what kind of world will we become? What kind of democracy will we uphold? How will we define and safeguard freedom?
We are the world. We are the children. We’re the ones who make a better place for us to start living. Our ancestors told their story. We are telling our story. And we’re preparing the next generation to tell their story. The question is: What will our story be? How will we shape the narrative of our time, and what legacy will we leave for future generations to inherit and build upon? Will freedom ring?
As I reflect on the lyrics of “We Are The World,” I’m reminded of the values that unite us — compassion, unity, and collective action. Yet, in today’s world, these values are often tested by challenges such as political polarization, social inequality, and global crises.
Our response to these challenges will shape the world we leave for future generations. Agility, not fragility, is key in navigating the cycles of change that impact our daily lives. Whether it’s a cycle of prosperity or poverty, technological innovation, impact of social unrest, demographic changes, or declining birthrate which figures into the strategy of some to outlaw reproductive freedom for women, or the increasing concentration of wealth in a smaller slice of the population, these cycles create greed, selfishness, and unbridged power that can embolden some and marginalize others.
As individuals, we must shift our thinking, our understanding, and our approaches to these cycles of change. Do we have the capacity and the understanding to adapt to these powerful forces of change?
The kind of democracy we have will depend on our ability to adapt to changing circumstances and address the underlying fragilities in our political institutions. It will require us to reimagine governance structures, empower marginalized voices, and ensure accountability and transparency.
Similarly, the way we treat freedom will require us to recognize its fragility and adapt our approach to safeguarding it. In a rapidly changing world, traditional notions of freedom may need to be redefined to address new challenges such as digital privacy, online censorship, and surveillance.
As we stand at this crossroads, let us draw inspiration from the spirit of “We Are The World.” Let us come together as a global community to address the pressing issues of our time and to build a brighter future for all.
The world we become, the democracy we uphold, and the way we treat freedom are all choices within our power. Let us choose wisely, knowing that our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow. Agility may guide us towards a more resilient and inclusive future.
In the end, we hold the power to shape the world we inhabit, and it is within the sacred act of voting that our collective destiny finds its voice. As we cast our ballots, we affirm our role as architects of progress and guardians of a future that embraces justice, equity, and inclusion for all.
“We are the world, and what it becomes is cradled in the bosom of our vote.”
Effenus Henderson
