“ When the peace is fragile and turmoil threatens the world , the future seeks refuge in a strong heart and steady hand .”
— SIDNEY POITIER ON THE ISPA CONFERENCE STAGE IN 2008
WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO HAVE MANY PASSIONATE leaders grace the ISPA Conference stage — Maya Angelou and John Wooden jump to mind , along with so many others . But there was something magical about Sidney Poitier that truly moved the room . Mr . Poitier , the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor , knew something about both turmoil and strength . When he died in January at age 95 , I rewatched his ISPA speech and couldn ’ t help but be moved once again by the wise words he shared with the ISPA family .
A strong heart and a steady hand is exactly what we ’ ve needed over these last few months as ISPA ( and the world ) has continued to navigate uncharted waters . I know we say it over and over again , but as we welcome our new board members to the ISPA leadership — strong and steady , each one of them — it is hard to not reflect back and acknowledge the legacy of leaders that have created our organization and ensured that it continues to thrive in times of uncertainty .
Because , as Mr . Poitier so eloquently reminded us : “ In the final analysis , it does not matter how many times you ’ ve been knocked down . What matters is what you do with the time after you get back up . So let us move on , unafraid . What the hell — who knows — maybe the best is yet to come , and a second waltz awaits us in a place we could never imagine .”
Each of us has likely felt knocked down at times over the past couple of years . Maybe you even feel that way now . I hope Mr . Poitier ’ s words bring you as much comfort as they bring me . May we all find the courage to move on , unafraid , eager to meet the future . ■
After being presented the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award by Deborah Szekely — Mr . Poitier held it up and proudly said in his commanding voice ,“ the moment inherent in this will not languish on a shelf . I will keep it as close to my heart as I possibly can .”
— LYNNE MCNEES , ISPA PRESIDENT
CONNECT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK OR LINKEDIN : LYNNE WALKER MCNEES
68 PULSE ■ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022