I’ve been in Baltimore the last few days. Flew out there Wednesday and got back last night. I was attending the It’s Time Network Inaugural Summit representing Queentia. Queentia is an engagement partner along with another organization I’m involved in, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners).

With Queentia, I am a cofounder and Chief Social Impact Officer. With NAWBO, I’m a member of the board for the Sacramento Valley Chapter.

There is much more backstory about the connections between Queentia, NAWBO and It’s Time Network, but in the interest of keeping this post from being too long…

Water purification ceremony by Sara, member of indigenous people delegation. Along the banks of Potomac at the Piscataway state reserve

Water purification ceremony by Sara, member of indigenous people delegation. Along the banks of Potomac at the Piscataway state reserve

The Summit was to take place Thursday – Sunday. Because of the riots and curfew, the Summit was cancelled. I went to Baltimore anyway to support the It’s Time Network leadership, to participate in the welcoming ceremony of seven nations of indigenous peoples on sacred land across from Mount Vernon on the banks of the Potomac and to attend the Congressional Reception at the US Capitol. In the span of a four days, I witnessed and participated in our society’s extremes. In the morning, honored the descendants of the Piscataway tribe defending their homes from the invading Europeans. In the evening, shaking Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s hand in our Nation’s capitol. The next morning watching the National Guard deploy around the Penn train station in Baltimore. Then in the afternoon walk through the Smithsonian museum of space flight, amazed at how far we’ve come in technology and understanding our universe. Then, in the evening as I approached my hotel, passing state police in riot gear moving into position to block the street ahead.

April 30, 2015: Attended Congressional Reception at US Capitol with women leaders such as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

April 30, 2015: Attended Congressional Reception at US Capitol with women leaders such as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

Reflecting on my few days in one of our historic cities, our reluctance to embrace a beautiful future shone in stark relief:

We don’t lack imagination. We don’t lack resources. We don’t lack intelligence.

We lack a sense of self. Not individual self. We lack a sense of global self — of universal self.

When we look into each others eyes, hearts and lives and see ourselves, we can make good decisions that benefit everyone. Until we do that, we will control and destroy what we do not recognize as us.

We are slow to accept that we are unique expressions of one life.

We may go kicking and screaming, but humanity is moving inevitably toward the global self being the individual self identity.

Notice the extremes around you. Why have we chosen to create these extremes in our lives and community? As you find answers to this question, consider how you might act on your insights.

Sculpture: Integrated Man and Woman located in front of Penn Station in Baltimore, MD

Sculpture: Integrated Man and Woman located in front of Penn Station in Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is a beautiful city. Like many cities in the country, Baltimore struggles with beliefs that divide and estrange people from each other, creating

inequalities in opportunity and resources.

There is hope in new leadership. There is hope in the compassionate and inclusive ideas being introduced to the community planning process in many of the major cities.

There is hope in recognizing the essence of who we are in each other.

Social Mission Central ‪#‎queentia‬ ‪#‎stewardship‬ ‪#‎Baltimore‬ ‪#‎sacramentocircle‬
http://laura-hansen.com