For the past year, every time I pictured what the future would look like, I’ve been wrong. (Remember when we all thought a global pandemic would blow over in a few months?) The world is so unpredictable, and planning often feels pointless. Still, I’ve been thinking about the future a lot lately. Both mine and Life Together’s.
Last month, the Emmaus fellows moved from Brookline to Dorchester. As we’ve settled into our new home, I’ve thought about how it might feel for next year’s fellows to walk into this house for the first time. I think it’s a safe bet to assume they won’t get the same kind of welcome I did when I arrived at 40P in August 2019. I was picked up from the airport by an alum, greeted by Kelsey in the front hall, and given a tour of the house by an outgoing Emmaus fellow. Next year’s fellows will probably arrive masked and fresh out of quarantine.
As much as I yearn for a world where they can explore Dorchester (or Milton) without worrying about vaccines and COVID tests, I’m glad about one thing: They will enter a space that has been lovingly prepared for them. We’ve worked to make this house feel warm and inviting. We’ve put labels on the kitchen cabinets, turned our basement into a cozy TV room, and hope to build raised flower beds when the weather warms up.
Our preparations have gone beyond the house. I’ve been participating in interviews with LT applicants and wondering how we can set up next year’s cohort for success. We’re nearly a year into this pandemic and still learning how to adjust programming accordingly. It will be even more of a challenge next year, with a much smaller Emmaus team. So, we’ve been asking a lot of questions. What aspects of training days aren’t translating well from in person gatherings to Zoom? What projects can we take on now so next year’s fellows won’t be overwhelmed? Are there ways we can restructure the Emmaus role? Some answers come easier than others.
I’ve also been asking questions only I can answer as I begrudgingly think about what’s next for me. What values do I want to bring to my next work place? How will I continue to engage in conversations about racial justice? How do I want to stay involved with Life Together after I move on? And most importantly, what do I still want to learn from Life Together while I’m here? After all, it’s only February. I still have time to put the same intention and care into preparing the way for myself that I do for future fellows.
Allison Lewis (she/her/hers) is an Emmaus Fellow serving at The Family Van. She's very tired of winter and doing her best to keep her plants alive.