The Silence We Are Paying For
By Caty Rengifo Botero - [email protected]
TL;DR
- The 6th Summit for Equity was valuable not for its presentations, but for the difficult conversations it facilitated.
- Unspoken questions about young people's feelings and aspirations have significant societal costs like dropout rates and even suicides.
- While a generation recognizes gender equity, society struggles to address these issues openly, preferring to avoid discomfort.
- Effective leadership today requires the ability to have difficult conversations, where disagreement doesn't equate to attack and listening is about understanding.
- Equity is enacted in everyday microdecisions and interactions, not just in large policies.
- Spaces like the summit are important for fostering dialogue about uncomfortable topics and building a generation capable of discussing national problems.
- True leadership emerges when one dares to ask the questions others avoid, prompting reflection on decisions made in silence.