A Year Like No Other

By Marco Pérez

To say that 2020 has been a challenging year would be an understatement.

We began the year watching historical fires in Australia on TV, and what -at the time- sounded like the small threat of a virus that was spreading throughout Asia. By March of this year, what we had only seen in dystopian films was becoming part of our daily lives. We were being told to “Stay home and stay safe.” We were being asked to wear masks and keep socially distant from each other. Certain foods and items like toilet paper were becoming commodities. Those of us with children in school were trying to figure out how to continue with our daily responsibilities, while our children were at home. The terms uncertain and unprecedented became part of our daily language. What we originally thought might be a couple of weeks of inconvenience and discomfort has now transformed into eight months of “the new normal.”

At the same time, the subject that became central in our conversations this year was the topic of equity. People filled the streets decrying the unfair and unjust treatment of people of color at the hands of those called to protect and serve. The virus was affecting some groups disproportionately as those who were deemed essential workers were putting themselves in harm’s way. Some of our neighbors were financially secure, while others found themselves with no security and the risk of losing everything they had worked for.

We as a society are learning to adapt quickly, though. Within our school system, education administrators pivoted immediately, creating the option for remote learning. Teachers demonstrated their commitment to education by showing up as skilled problem-solvers and lifelong-learners. They adapted their lessons for online study on platforms that, for many, were brand new, and found ways to celebrate and connect with students while remaining safe from the virus. But the issues as a result of inequity were also experienced in education, here and around the world.

Safety must come first for students and educators, but learning must also continue, and not all students have an environment to do that successfully. A host of barriers were exposed for us as a community to address: some families lack the right support or accessibility to be able to connect to their school in a timely and productive manner, and for some students whose parents may not be able to actively participate in their education during the school day, the safest and best place for learning may not be in their home.

As a community we have an opportunity to step up and find ways to serve. Churches, nonprofits and community organizations have truly become an absolute necessity in the outreach to our neighbors, but their staff and resources have also been stretched to the limit. Health workers, teachers and other essential members of our community are tired, and need our support, beyond just prayers and applause. Let us not lose heart at this moment, and let us find ways in which we can serve those members who have served us tirelessly.

Let’s also remember that the best way to support everyone is to do our part to reduce the infections, especially as the promise of a vaccine is on the horizon. 2020 is almost over. We can hopefully look toward a brighter and more successful 2021. May we continue to be lifelong learners, even in the face of adversity. H20

A proud supporter of the La Paz Latino Community Center