How do we navigate 2026 with hope and find ways to create the positive change that the world so desperately needs?
Why Hope and Community Matter More Than Ever in 2026
Defeating the forces that divide human beings will require us to focus on rebuilding. Creating new forms of consciousness raising to create peace, equity and improved well-being must be at the forefront of our collective efforts.
To honor lives lost and in order to preserve life, we need a fresh approach to civic commitments as well as our own personal dedication. A truly effective approach has always been through community building. How can we approach it differently?
Creating Welcoming Spaces Through Volunteerism
We can start by making everyone feel welcomed in our communities in acts of respectfully supporting one another. We can increase opportunities to volunteer where all stakeholders can agree upon and focus on an effective solution that respects human life, affords dignity and hope. Spaces like ASOH – which is a solution we can all wrap our arms around — is such a space for community building and life changing volunteerism. Volunteering connects us, changes us and compels us to see the human being not the label. It enlightens us to realize we are all connected as one.
ASOH is by no means the answer to the most complex crisis we face today but it is a beautiful example of offering a safe space to show up and be in community and respectfully hear and see one another. The more we do this, the more we can understand that we are more alike than we are not. We need to create more spaces where we can offer a strong sense of belonging, shared purpose, and community connection. The global prevalence of social isolation increased by 13.4% over the past 15 years. With no religious or spiritual life, the “belief gap” is being filled by divisive frameworks and platforms.
Long-term, our fractured society and globe will require a broad movement of inclusive action, new legislation and regulation. But for now, what we can do is focus on what unites us and not that which divides us. For if we succumb to the latter — an eye for an eye will leave us all blind. We welcome loving kindness and volunteerism to continue our work. We support all acts of loving kindness to lift up one another and improve outcomes for all. We embrace those who cultivate hope.
Focusing on What Unites Us in a Divided World
As we celebrate MLK Day we are reminded of Dr Clarence Jones who famously wrote the first draft of Dr King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr Jones is a great fan of ASOH’s work and believes the work of ASOH is what Dr Martin Luther King Jr called for during his Nobel Lecture on December 11, 1964. The excerpt Dr Jones pointed to is “Our problem today is that we have allowed the internal to become lost in the external… If we are to survive today, our moral and spiritual “lag” must be eliminated… No individual or nation can be great if it does not have a concern for ‘the least of these’. Deeply etched in the fiber of our religious tradition is the conviction that men are made in the image of God and that they are souls of infinite metaphysical value, the heirs of a legacy of dignity and worth. If we feel this as a profound moral fact, we cannot be content to see men hungry, to see men victimized with starvation and ill health when we have the means to help them. The wealthy nations must go all out to bridge the gulf between the rich minority and the poor majority. In the final analysis, the rich must not ignore the poor because both rich and poor are tied in a single garment of destiny.”
Another ASOH champion who generously donated her books to the homes we create, Dr Jane Goodall said “Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. “ At this time, we rely on hope more than ever. Not only for ourselves but to motivate one another. Dr Goodall went on further to say “You won’t be active unless you hope that your action is going to do some good. So you need hope to get you going, but then by taking action, you generate more hope. Hope is something we can cultivate. Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others.
How You Can Create Change Through Love, Hope, and Service
We can be the change we seek in the world and we can create the space for others to change — by allowing them to volunteer with love, hope and kindness. We thank you for your ongoing support of work and building healthy communities.
