"I'm not brave. I don't have the gene."
"There is no gene... You just need someone to be brave for."
This quote is from the recently released movie Project Hail Mary, and I must admit the movie deeply moved me with its explicit themes around courage and sacrifice. The movie revolves around a science teacher who wakes up on a lone, desperate interstellar mission to save Earth from a solar-eating parasite, forming an unexpected alliance with an alien to solve the crisis. While it’s science fiction, I believe these themes are more than relevant in our current situation at Clayton Early Learning.
Courage is defined as the mental, emotional, or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. As a leader of an organization committed to serving children, families, and our community, it is safe to say there are many difficult, scary, and unsettling challenges. For example, transforming our campus to better serve our community is full of uncertainty and risk.
As we know, fear can be a fatal contagion that drives inaction or complacency. Certainly, it would be easier for me, as the leader, to simply lease buildings on campus and operate our school programming. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t take on the risks associated with our larger vision – especially now, given the turmoil facing the world.
But then I walk through the halls of our school. I talk to families struggling with getting what they need when they need it. I see the children I know need every opportunity to thrive, and the consequences of failing to deliver for them. And I know we can and must be brave for them.
Like the hero in Project Hail Mary, the decision to act becomes crystal clear and necessary. Because it’s not about what might happen to me as a leader. It’s about what would happen to our community if we yield to fear. And we need to act with a sense of urgency. Now is the time for action.
Spring is a time of renewal for the Clayton team – we courageously embrace our collective desire to push forward on our vision of a campus serving our community with vital resources, including high-quality early childhood education, a health clinic, a food market, affordable housing, community space, access to workforce development, and areas for play and art. It’s necessary, beautiful, and empowering, and only together will we overcome fear by acting, through sacrifice, through courage.
The first phase comes to life on May 6th as we introduce our new community artistic hub which will include the Denver Center for African Art. Come join us for a wonderful celebration by RSVPing here. We will celebrate not just the new center but will also sincerely thank you for the tremendous impact we have made together. For each of you, who share our dream of a better world and courageously walk with us on this journey, we are so very grateful.
Ever forward -
William Browning
President & CEO
