This week I had the honor of being sworn in as one of three new Members to the Winnetka Public Schools District 36 School Board.  The modest ceremony, conducted under strict COVID protocols, took place in the library of Carleton Washburne Middle School that I attended.  My mother, step-father, and Chief of Staff watched on from the limited, six-feet apart seating in the back of the room, while Hal watched on Zoom with Audrey and Henriette from our home.  The quietness of the swearing-in still did not mute the importance of the some-1,500 students and 300 employees that the school board’s decisions will directly impact—our daughters included.   

I was raised in a family where “giving back” (aka civic engagement and philanthropy) is an essential part of life.  I am excited for the challenges and opportunities ahead, especially as we find a path forward out of such unprecedented times.  They have reminded me of the following hacks for civic engagement:

#hacksforchange:  “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” (Maya Angelou) 
#hacksforchange:  Leverage the talents you have gained in your professional life to benefit a nonprofit organization.  They are your unfair comparative advantage that will disproportionately impact the organization with which you are involved.  
#hacksforchange:  Be judicious with your time.  Better to have a larger impact on fewer organizations than a more disparate impact on many.