Joe Edson, PLAN systems director on what he's thankful for

For the past nine years of the eleven that I have worked with PLAN, I have supervised the practicum student interns from the UNR school of social work, and I am most thankful for the dedication and vitality that these young adults are bringing back to progressive ideas for our society.

As a member of the boomer generation—a demographic that has always been subject to a 50-50 split in ideology since the Vietnam War—I have seen too much entrenchment in the status quo which, in large part, we have created.  For every boomer committed to progressive equanimity, such as our incredible executive director Bob Fulkerson, I see another of my generation who has cast his or her moral lot with the problems our world and society face.

What I have found in my mentoring of the students who have chosen PLAN for their internships, is a vibrant, yet critical embracing of the values of acceptance, stewardship, and a thirst for knowledge and experience to make a difference in our unjust society.  Whether it is tackling the legislative process, building grassroot participation in our institutions, breaking down barriers, or taking part in progressive actions to right our society’s wrongs; this upcoming generation of leaders gives me hope that some of the boomers’ love of peace, earth and brotherhood, may actually come to pass.

I am thankful for Stacey Gilham, one of my first interns, who continues in Reno committed to progressive issues.  I am thankful Kai Regidor from UNLV’s school of social work who is now an invaluable member of our staff in Las Vegas.  And I am thankful for my current interns, Stacey Shinn and Jon Trujillo who are dedicating so much of themselves in their final year of their respective MSW and BSW programs.  All of you have inspired and renewed me; as well as my faith in human progress—and for that I am forever grateful.

 

Joe Edson
Systems Director
PLAN Reno Office