One year ago, our lives changed forever. I remember vividly the Friday discussion that our office might need to go remote at some point. By that Sunday, we made the decision to do so immediately. And that began a year that cost us so very much, including the lives of over 6,000 Coloradans.

The trauma we endured over the last year is painful to recount--in lives lost, in economic damage to businesses, in stress to those worried about making rent or student debt payments, in an overdue reckoning with racial injustices, and in mental health impacts that also cost lives. We are still processing it all.

As we move forward, we can do so with a spirit of gratitude, recognizing the grace, resilience, and innovation we summoned over the last year. I appreciate how we learned critical lessons--advancing the use of telemedicine, remote working and learning, and sound public health practices--that we are likely to call on in the future. 

As I reflect on the challenges ahead, I commend the empathy displayed by so many and am committed to leading with empathy in the year ahead. Our true north is captured in our national motto, e pluribus unum, out of many, one. I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this critical work

Thanks for supporting me on this journey.