We saw many of you at our regional reception on Friday night and in the halls of the huge convention center. It was an important opportunity for the organization to reflect on where it’s been, what its accomplished, and the long, hard work still facing each of us in the march towards One Day.

But 25 years of work and three days of reflection are nothing compared to the size of the challenge at hand. As our founder Wendy Kopp said over the weekend, the severity of America’s educational situation forces us to play “the long game.” It’s a game whose length might lead to disinterest & burnout. Our fatigue can be exacerbated because we often wish there were never a need for the game to be created in the first place.

For how long must we continue to play? “Together we rise” means we must always be “treating ourselves and each other with generosity so that we have strength” to continue.

So what do we do now? How do we as a region harness the energy generated at the Summit to fight the long, hard battles for our kids and our schools in Greater Philly?

We can only do this together. We want to hear from you regarding how we can continue to increase your impact. In this city of Brotherly Love, love is at the center of our work. Two weeks ago our office hosted a team of visitors from other regions, including one gentleman who was a member of Philadelphia’s founding corps in 2003. Holding back tears, he spoke of the kids he taught and the desire he had to always do more. The love he had for his experience, students, and this city overflowed.

But love takes work, and there’s a heck of a lot of work to be done in our schools and communities. This is an important moment for every single one of the 1,200 alumni, 20 staff, and 150+ corps members currently in Philadelphia. There are many hurdles stacked against the march towards educational equity in our city—race, poverty, politics, and so much more—but your passion and dedication can help break down the barriers. How can you fit in the picture to work together as a region to fight for better schools and opportunities for our kids?