What we witnessed yesterday was terrifying as it was happening in real time, but as I’ve had a bit of time to begin to process, it’s become even more terrifying for me - the frightened lawmakers crouched under desks, the fear in the security guard’s eyes as he ran from a violent mob, the blatant displays of white supremacy. Not to mention the relatively lackluster law enforcement response compared to the force we saw during Black Lives Matter protests, which only magnifies the reality of white privilege.

I believe the only way we can truly process this tragedy is by acknowledging how terrible it was, and how it made each of us feel. We must create space to process, while also mustering the energy and courage to check in on one another.

Now is a time for bravery, vulnerability and leadership grounded in your company and personal values.

It’s not easy, but you’ll find some useful resources in our Resource Center, and in particular, I want to share this prescient piece from Awaken’s Michelle Kim about how to support your team in times of political trauma. How to address the election in the workplace is also worth a read.

It’s hard to feel much hope in the face of so much hatred, but all of you remind me there is so much good in the world. Let’s help each other and our employees get through this period with care and compassion for one another, and let our anger continue to fuel our work for progress.