I’m writing to you in a spirit of connection and care following this election. I am neither discouraged nor elated, but rather clear-eyed and purposeful about our shared journey ahead. These results have crystallized something important about our American story – how we navigate change together, how we hold both challenges and possibilities and how our choices ripple both within our communities and beyond our borders.
On The American Paradox
Our nation presents an intriguing paradox. On paper, we enjoy remarkable privileges – uninterrupted utilities such as water, electricity, cooling, and heating as well as government-supported access to housing and technology. Many Americans maintain a quality of life that would be enviable by global standards.
Yet in the shadow of prosperity lies a more complex reality: the daily stress of navigating a consumer-driven world where other basic human needs like healthcare, safety, and quality education often feel just out of reach, for the majority of our population and especially, Black, Latino, Indigenous, low-income, middle-income, rural, and urban communities. Despite the challenges everyday people face, for those orchestrating these campaigns, it often feels like another move in a game they’re already winning, regardless of the outcome. 
That is what was most striking to me about this election cycle. It wasn’t the stark differences between candidates (though there were several), but rather their shared commitment to maintaining some version of the status quo. I felt forced into a false dichotomy when in my view, neither represented a vision or leadership that felt transformative or deeply aligned with the kind of change I believe is necessary. 
I also acknowledge that for all of those who have experienced periods in this country where their full rights weren’t realized–the calculus is far more complex, particularly considering the identities and lived experiences embodied in each candidate. Our layered experiences bring forth distinct hopes, fears, and concerns that our current political framework struggles to fully acknowledge, let alone address.
The weight of this reality feels particularly heavy because these aren’t just abstract political exercises – they have real, tangible implications. Election outcomes directly impact whether families can remain together or maintain their basic rights. Our national decisions reverberate globally, forcing us to think also beyond our communities to vulnerable people oceans away. As a result, I understand the range of emotions we each may carry.
A central question many are sitting with now is, what do we do when our leaders may not reflect our interest⁈
On Transformation And Empowerment
In navigating these tensions, I hold a complex truth: while I’m concerned about the country’s direction, I’m also deeply aware of the privilege inherent in our democratic process. In many parts of the world, supporting the “wrong” candidate can lead to arrest, exile, or worse. This perspective doesn’t diminish our challenges. Rather it highlights our responsibility to utilize our freedoms thoughtfully and reminds us that we are collectively responsible for our reality.
It can also help us put things into historical context and comparative proportion. There is something valuable about what our country strives to be, but it is–very much–still striving. This young nation has a lot to address and account for which we have yet to.
This moment in our history is precedented – in fact, it is distinctly American.
The pendulum swings we’re experiencing are part of our national pattern, particularly evident in a country still struggling to face itself honestly. As I observe both major political parties cycling through variations of the status quo, I’m reminded of a different historical pattern: transformative change in our nation has nearly always emerged from grassroots movements—from courageous people who challenge their own beliefs and align their actions with their evolving understanding.
Real changes trickle up, not down, as we influence our families, strengthen our communities, and reshape our institutions from the ground up. In my view, that is where the power of our work lies.
When our leaders don’t reflect our interests, we work on ourselves from the inside out, to bring forth the change we want. 
On Sustainability, Care, And Action
To sustain this work, I’m intentional about protecting my spirit, energy, and physical safety, and that of my children. The tensions and distractions in this culture can make it hard to focus and envision beyond the present reality. Protection isn’t about disconnection – it’s about staying grounded enough to envision and work toward genuine liberation. Sometimes, stepping back provides the clarity needed to imagine new possibilities.
I invite us all to rise above the noise and artificial urgency that keeps us reactive. Instead, let’s create space to imagine and build what our communities and country could become through genuine transformation. The path ahead isn’t just about incremental adjustments – it’s about embracing our full potential for systemic evolution.
In perspective and hope 
Samira Abdul-Karim
Chief Executive Officer & Principal Consultant
Hyphens and Spaces LLC.
www.hyphensandspaces.com
