Support and Community

by Dominic Green, Director of Programs + Faculty

Funny enough, the last time I wrote for our IncluThink blog was also around the time of a major presidential election—clearly, I need to work on my timing! 😊

That said, I’ve spent the past month thinking, processing, and listening to others. Two words that have consistently surfaced in these conversations are support and community.

Let me start with this: “What kind of world do we want, and what will we do to achieve it?”

This quote from the movie Cabrini, depicting the life of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, struck me deeply. I was sitting with my mom and several others in the St. Frances Cabrini Community Center in Omaha, watching the film on the evening of Wednesday, November 6th—the day after the elections. I wasn’t really in the mood. I felt numb. But I had promised a friend I would be there, and I knew she’d be looking for me. I had also promised my mom that we’d see this movie together. It was important to her because, later in her life, Mother Cabrini lived in Denver, Colorado, where she regularly visited my Italian relatives.

As I watched the movie—based on true events that launched Mother Cabrini’s global mission—I was struck by how relevant its themes are today. It reminded me that the fight for a just and inclusive community, where all people are treated with dignity and respect, is not new. And it reaffirmed that we cannot give up.

It’s true: this is not a new fight. And yes, that can sometimes deepen feelings of despair. But what if we chose to lean into that history instead? What if, as a community, we decided that now is not the time to give up? What if we supported “the work” with our time, money, and resources?

What if we took it even further? What if we actively supported local organizations that have long been leading these efforts—those fostering conversations, building relationships, and strengthening our communities?

By doing this, we might begin to answer the broader question of community. We live in a society that prioritizes individualism, yet we are facing an epidemic of loneliness. Research shows this loneliness is often worse for men. Clearly, we need community—a space where people can lean on one another, feel supported, and celebrate both small and large victories together.

Through conversations with others and in my own reflections, I’ve sensed fear about what comes next. What will the next iteration of this work and this fight look like? But alongside that fear, there has been a persistent question: How do we continue to support the communities around us? How do we sustain our neighbors, organizations, and workplace teams who have been courageously doing this work?

I’ll be honest with you: I don’t have the answers. I don’t think any of us truly knows what will happen next. But I do know this: I am choosing to hold space for those who need it and to continue working toward the mission of confronting prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination. That work looks different for everyone, and that’s okay.

Now is not the time to back down. Now is the time to lean into discomfort—safely and thoughtfully—and to support one another in whatever way that means to you. Find ways to connect with people and organizations that might be struggling. Support not just those at the forefront, but also those doing equally important work behind the scenes. Change requires all of us. And above all, we must remember why this work matters. In the movie Cabrini, she asks, “What did we do for the poor, the sick, the homeless, those who are stripped of dignity?” I ask myself this question constantly. What can I do? What can we do for our neighbors, family, friends, and fellow community members who are at risk of losing their dignity?

A gesture that seems small to you might be a beacon of hope to someone who feels forgotten in a scary time. Be that beacon when you can. But also, take care of yourself. Fill your own bucket so you can show up fully.

So I leave you with this: What will you do for the poor, the sick, the homeless, and those who are excluded and stripped of their human dignity?