As we start a new year, it’s hard to ignore the growing divide around us. From political polarization to economic disparities, and from cultural differences to social injustices, the fractures in our world seem wider than ever. But amidst these challenges lies an opportunity—a chance to prioritize unity, connection, and kindness.
At the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, these values are at the heart of our work with girls and fuel our vision to create communities where girls are safe, respected, valued and equal partners in their futures.
In our work, we see how division impacts lives firsthand. Too often, girls face obstacles that isolate them—poverty, trauma, systemic inequities, or the absence of supportive relationships. These divisions rob them of their potential and strip them of their sense of belonging. It creates a sense of disconnection and loss. Our research Breaking New Ground on the First Coast: Explaining Girls’ Pathways into the Juvenile Justice System showed that 69% of girls locked up, lived without a parent and 88% of them had experienced school suspension all causing further disconnection from space and relationships. And yet girls continue to share the importance of all adult relationships. They remind us of the incredible power we have through connection to transform lives.
When we provide girls with safe spaces, mentors who listen, and communities that value their voices, something extraordinary happens: barriers begin to crumble. Whether it’s through our See the Girl programs, our advocacy efforts, or the individualized care we offer, the thread that ties it all together is relationships built on trust and kindness.
Relationships are more than a cornerstone of our programs—they are the bridge to a better future. Studies repeatedly show that when girls are surrounded by people who believe in them, they thrive. Connection fuels resilience, and resilience sparks hope. This is the antidote to division: seeing, listening, and choosing compassion.
The world may feel more divided, but each of us has the power to cultivate unity in our corner of it. Small acts of kindness ripple outward, creating waves of change. A word of encouragement, a moment of listening, an intentional effort to lift someone up—these simple acts remind us that we’re more alike than different and that our shared humanity is far stronger than the forces that divide us.
As we look ahead to 2025, let us recommit to the values that bring us together. Whether it’s in our work at the Policy Center or in our daily interactions, let’s choose to build connections that heal and empower. Together, we can model the world we hope to see—one defined not by division, but by unity, compassion, and love.
For the girls we serve, for the communities we live in, and for the future we all share, let’s continue to be bridge-builders in a divided world.
Sincerely,
Vicky
President & CEO
Vicky, thank you these words of truth so beautifully said. They lay a foundation of hope for the new year. with care and gratitude…..Bobbie