by Dora Barilla, DrPH, Co-Founder
As we step into a new year, we have the opportunity to not only explore new beginnings but also reflect on the past, embrace the present, and renew our commitment to lead together on the boundaries of community health and well-being.
Hold.Health is and always has been most about holding ourselves to each other, caring and tending as life happens to those who are extending themselves with courage and intelligence into the places forsaken by most professionals. Many of us are “boundary leaders,” often generating a bit of tension (sometimes painful) with the organizations and disciplines that formed us to work at the intersection of science and faith. We like the unknown, uncertain, and broken-open spaces, perfect for these times. So we hold each other true to our deep desire to be brave as well as wise. And we hold with fierce tenderness the blended intelligence that lies at the intersection of those disciplines. We protect the new idea like a sprout from the trampling of a clumsy old policy.
In 2025 we are excited about:
- Our new website www.hold.health, designed to support and connect us in this joyful work. Be sure to check our monthly blogs for boundary leaders like you who will inspire and encourage us on our personal journeys and vocational trajectories.
- Our brilliant new co-chairs Juleun Johnson, AdventHealth and Angel Coaston, Pepperdine University, who lead with soul and sagacity.
- Nomination opportunities for our Hold.Health awards:
-Dr. Ruth J. Temple Moral Courage Award
-Dr. Gerald Winslow Ethical Clarity Award
-Dr. Somava Saha Redemptive Intergenerativity Award - Our in-person convening at Pepperdine University, Malibu California, on May 16, 2025. (Please save the date!)
In this new year, when smart hope is trying to find voice, may we hold onto the insights that emerge with that generous energy born of well-earned trust. May we feel that when we meet in person at our own unique convening experiences and at those we support. And may we see it on our webpages, read it on our blog, and hear it on our virtual convenings.
We’ve done all this for years and are just getting started. Let us cherish the lessons learned, celebrate the connectedness we have created, and move forward with hope and intention.
Thank you all for your partnership and dedication to our network of changemakers.
