Words of Encouragement from Andy Shallal

The DC Social Justice Transformations Network kicked off its fourth year at last month’s Convening.  It was one of the highest attended Convenings to date.    

The event featured a conversation with Andy Shallal, founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets—a restaurant, bar, bookstore, and community gathering place, and Michanda Myles, DC Bar Foundation’s network program manager.

During the conversation, Andy shared several keys points to inspire those who are advocates and allies and might feel burned out or discouraged.  

1. Take time to look at how far you have come. Often, we don’t take enough time to take stock of where we have come from. We are always looking ahead and that is what gets exhausting. Once in a while, stop, pause, and look at what is behind you.  

2. Do not lose joy in the work you do. Everything you do has to come from the heart. It has to be something that you feel good about doing. Sometimes we try to compartmentalize our lives in a way that forces us to turn off our professional lives when we get home and vice versa. You are constantly trying to appease different people and that causes burnout. To avoid burning out, try not to turn off the different parts of you and stay joyful.  

3. Keep taking risks. There are many people throughout history who have fought for so many of the rights we have today.  They never lived to see the outcomes or experience it for themselves in their lifetime, but they knew they were on that never-ending arc of the universe that points to justice. Sometimes you have to keep your head down and just keep moving.  

We hope that as you navigate challenges, you take some time to remember these insights from Andy and find encouragement to keep going.  

Please save the date and join us for the next Convening on October 14. Registration will open on August 21.