USA Today recently published an op-ed written by YouthBuild USA CEO John Valverde, in which he shares his lived experience that has uniquely prepared him to lead during times of upheaval.
In the piece, John outlines how his period of incarceration shaped the way he’s thinking about coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement and their impact on YouthBuild USA, our programs, and students. As CEO, he is setting the YouthBuild USA teams’ mindset to think long term about a return to “normal” to help ensure that the organization comes out the other side stronger. He shares how there is value in being vulnerable and how other leaders of organizations and businesses would be well served by revealing their fears and anxieties to their staff so they can build trust and understanding. John also calls out the need to recognize privilege in a time such as the global pandemic. Inequity is increasing and our young people, who are already disadvantaged, have a longer road ahead.
In the op-ed, John says that we must turn this moment into time well spent by focusing on what’s at stake: health, equity, and justice.
Read more here!
