My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred; And I myself see not the bottom of it.
-William Shakespeare
Our team is too often expressing the pain and sympathy we feel for communities struck by tragedy. The past two weeks we’ve found ourselves doing so yet again.
Events in our nation and around the world have exposed divides and complexities that confront us each day. It is not easy to heal, build safe and prosperous communities, and trust one another. As we discuss difficult issues and identify how we can help affect solutions, we also remember that many people are doing remarkable work that makes our world better each day.
Fortunately, a dose of good news is not hard to find.
Jobs – Good jobs and great jobs are prevalent in our economy. They are often full-time, offering healthcare benefits and safe work environments. They are created by entrepreneurs and institutions that have a greater purpose. As a nation, we have greater ability to work now than at another time in history.
Data and Insight – Advanced computing power has given us the ability to aggregate, interpret and draw insights from massive sets of data. Often referred to as “big data,” this technology allows us to draw conclusions that we can act upon with confidence. We now know more about what works and what does not in the fields of health, criminal justice, transportation, and a host of social issues. Insight gleaned from data is moving institutions and policies forward that have sat dormant for years.
Health – Major diseases, like colon cancer, dementia and heart disease, are in decline. While far from gone, people in the U.S. are starting to beat back diseases of aging.
Diversity and Globalism – Because of technology, economic need and ability to travel globally, we are doing more business with each other and developing more diverse relationships around the globe. There has always been cross-border travel, but never to this extent. This continues to weave the world’s citizens together, creating interdependence and building trust. No longer are we completely dependent on national government cooperation to bring people together.
The United States of America – We live in a celebrated country that enjoys incredible freedoms and opportunity. We can live, worship and speak freely. We have enormous economic opportunities and freedoms to build careers, start businesses and roam over 3 million square miles of land from ocean to ocean. We have fissures, but we continue to be a light for others who do not enjoy such freedom.
Let’s keep striving.
-Kenny McDonald
One Columbus Update
This week, the One Columbus team is in China to meet with companies. Back at home, our team will host companies considering the Columbus Region.