It’s election season and I expect many of us are uneasy going into next week’s election given the level of polarization in this country, the degree to which we know little about who is likely to win, when a winner will emerge, and what will happen in January when we install a new government. The election may not be decided for weeks. As we approach this election and the days afterward, we want to be sure that we take care of ourselves, ensure our loved ones are safe, and prepare to help the communities we work with sort things out regardless of the outcome.
For those of us who work in CD it can be an especially challenging time. I was recently visiting with a colleague who held a program last week to make sure people had the tools they need to facilitate dialogue amongst people with very different perspectives. It didn’t go so well. Not because the program was not good. The people running the program were very excellent at this kind of work. The problem was the timing. It was already too close to the election and the people in the program, who were practicing community developers that understand how good process works, were not able to do the work. They were emotionally strained by the upcoming election and were struggling to manage their own feelings about those who vote differently than they do, let alone playing a role building bridges among people that are so polarized.
I think it will be increasingly important to give one another grace in the coming days as we work through what are likely to be some confusing days in the coming weeks. Much of what we would normally do in communities may be difficult for some time as people struggle to figure out what they need and want to do. We also need to give grace to those we love, including ourselves, as we try to make sense of the outcomes as well as give grace to those we differ with as they also work to sort things out. Don’t forget your friends and colleagues in CDS as you think about the support you will need. They are some of the most important people in my support system.
My plan is to cultivate the support I need to unpack what happens and what it means for me and my loved ones, figure out what it means for my work and those I work with, and do my best to create safe spaces for the communities I am part of so we can explore the implications of the election results and what it means for us going forward. Whatever you decide to do, please be safe and give yourself and those around you the grace and support necessary to effectively work through the challenges of the coming days. It all starts next Tuesday. Be sure to vote and then buckle up, it will be a unique time no matter who wins.
There are many ways to attend and participate at CDS events. We have an upcoming free webinar in partnership with Breakthrough Pioneers on November 18th. The 2025 CDS Annual Conference submissions are all open for Call for Proposals, Call for Pre-conference Workshops, Call for Mobile Learning Workshops and Call for Sponsored Tracks. This year, CDS added a Best Paper Award for the Call for Proposals early decision deadline. Please check all the announcements and reminders in this edition of the Vanguard for more information or visit CDSociety.org.
In service,
