So much new in this New Year. 20 is officially minted 21, a new administration will move into the White House and new vaccines are slowly making their way into people’s arms. There is a new season of hope even while old grievances have been emboldened and charted new territory through the halls of our Capitol. As New York Times writer Tom Friedman recently wrote, he “sees a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train coming at us.” We have a lot of track to travel, many twists and turns and some of them will be blind curves but I do feel the winds of a New Year fanning a renewed hope. Like so many of you, I am holding on, and I find solace, as REfresh guest Jeannie Diffenderfer, Founder & CEO of courageNpurpose, referenced during our REfresh conversation series in August 2020. And I am actually inspired when artist, entrepreneur, and author Gay Gaddis urges us to find the inner fortitude to “thrive in the ambiguity”. As difficult as these times are for us, and they are challenging, we think a lot about our kids. Our work with teen girls who we lovingly refer to as Generation WOW, share their resilience as they gather in safe spaces that afford them the opportunity to share, to learn, to discover that they are not alone and have a bit of fun. In the absences that COVID has created, we better appreciate a new understanding of just how important our friends and families are and that a simple hug is so powerful in creating the life force we call connection. On January 26th, we will transport the energy, excitement, and inspiration from our annual Generation WOW leadership and mentorship event to screens and desktops across Northeast Florida and beyond to engage and connect teen girls’ hearts and minds. For two power-packed hours, beginning at 11:45 a.m. EST, girls will be energized and surrounded by the power of the positive and the possible. Something we can all use a little more of these days. The power of authentic storytelling by inspirational women and girls helps to build trust and nurtures our ability to believe. We are so thrilled by the distinguished trailblazers who will share their incredible stories, including; Dr. Maya Warren, a chemical engineer who is using her degree in chemical engineering to create ice cream flavors to delight our taste buds Rachel Jacobson, is the CEO of the Drone Racing League, one of the foremost women who is leading a technology company. She is committed to inspiring and helping girls to become more involved in tech GiGi Lucas, a lover of the ocean who is working to change the world as the founder of SurfearNEGRA, a non-profit dedicated to exposing girls of color to the ocean Sanyin Siang, a world-renowned thought-leader and author who serves as the Executive Director of Duke University’s Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) at the Fuqua School of Business Diya Wynn, who is the first, Artificial Intelligence Ethics Officer at Amazon Web Services. She was a WOW girl in her time for sure, as she fell in love with technology in the 3rd grade and followed her dream when many did not see the future she created During WOW Virtual, we will be launching the CONNECT to WOW mentoring experience. So if you are interested in bringing your wisdom to the WOW of our girls, join us and learn how you, as leaders of today can help them become the leaders of tomorrow. If there is ever a time for the world to benefit from this WOWsdom! energy, surely it is now. A silver lining is that we have no borders, so no matter where you are, register to receive your personal link to attend. Learn more and register here. A New Year brings new experiences and Stacy Ellison, our Program and Operations Director will be pursuing her new adventure. We are so grateful to her and for all that she has contributed to Generation W.