Rests & Resets: Reflections from our CEO

Whew, where has the time gone? Summer break is over, and schools have opened across the country. Amidst the excitement and some trepidation, we all have returned to classrooms with mixed feelings. Usually, The Institute would have sent newsletters, posted on social media, or sent resources at the beginning of this month, especially during, yet again, another school shooting. This school year begins a bit slower for us here at The Institute because I am trying to figure out how we can return.

I took an unapologetic summer sabbatical for the first time since The Institute was founded, meaning I did nothing from June through August. It was beautiful. There was simply silence, stillness. The summer came and wrapped me in rest.

On July 2nd, the Institute celebrated four years of community work and education transformation. As the one who simply helps to guide the vision of the Institute, it has been an honor to do this work for four years, but it has not been easy. There have been so many highs and some heartbreaking lows. And through it all, I have done my best to honor my humanity. In December, my best was unexpectedly put to the test. I was burned out, exhausted, and depleted. 

I decided to take the summer off and have a much-needed sabbatical. In doing so, I took a risk. I risked losing our engagement on social media, fundraising would be non-existent, and we would lose out on potential school partnerships that would keep our work going for even more years to come. All of these thoughts surrounded me. It felt selfish, but I just had to walk away for a few months, and I did so without notice or warning. My spirit needed a reprieve. 

You see, I conduct workshops about loving yourself enough to acknowledge the beauty of your humanity. Meaning that I encourage everyone to know their limits and to engage in rest as a daily practice and not something you work to earn. I’ve worked with schools to implement new policies that embrace radical care so that teachers, admins, and staff are not burned out. I didn’t offer these tools to myself. Instead, I pushed through until there was no more push left in me. I let the toxic culture of academia dictate my self-care—no more. 

So, I apologize if stepping away from social media and our newsletter without a heads-up disrupted your learning or opportunities to connect as a community. I just had to do what I could for myself so that our work wouldn’t suffer in the future. In all of this, I want to celebrate us. I want to celebrate the AMAZING community, family, & team here at The Institute, all of you, all of the students we have encountered, and all of the wonderful people we have had the privilege of working with. Ya’ll make all of the work worth it. Yes, we are expansive enough to hold grief, anger, disappointment, joy, and hope. Celebrating and appreciating our journey keeps us connected to the futures we dream of. Here’s to more years of us working together to create a world we all deserve! 

We will be back soon, but it may not be the same as you are used to being in community with us. No worries, we will figure this out together. 

As we look towards the future, we need each other now more than ever. With a contentious election on the horizon, the threat to democracy looming, and heightened fear, we must cultivate stronger communities. We have to be there for one another. If my last depressive episode has taught me anything, it has reminded me that community is how we survive. It is how we will live. I’m here with you, loving, dreaming, and praying for you. I ask you to do the same for me. Send us the love I send to all of you. 

With love, 

Ash