With great personal risk, people across the United States and around the world are taking a stand to make the world a better place. This trend is following a number of movements, each building on the one before. From students protesting against mass shootings, #metoo shining a light on sexual assault, a global school strike to raise awareness about climate change, and now Black Lives Matter.

Although in many ways it seems like this is a dark time of disease, oppressive violence, upheaval and strife, I personally have never been more hopeful about our society than I have over these past few weeks.  Injustice is in plain sight and is becoming more accepted as it is perpetrated by political, judicial, and law enforcement institutions. A country’s inability to manage the current global pandemic is a direct result of institutions treating the disease outbreak as a public relations and political problem to take advantage of instead of addressing the disease with science, data, and transparency. Those institutions operating with candor and transparency have served their people well and are demonstrating what leadership looks like.

These various forms of activism are shining a light on that which we did not or chose not to see. People today are looking at the world from their pandemic stricken countries and demonstrating tremendous courage by standing up for what is right and just. Institutions have failed their citizens at many levels, and it is now the individuals that are demonstrating that is no longer acceptable.

I have never been so hopeful or had so much admiration for the next generation that are truly wanting a society that is better for the global community. They want what is reasonable: a society with equality and respect.