Ten years ago, in April 2008, my father Jerry Zucker died of brain cancer at the age of 58. He had accomplished much in his lifetime through his work ethic, beautiful mind, and big heart. He had gone from a young man living paycheck to paycheck in a trailer with my mother to building one of the largest companies in our home state. And, he never lost his purpose or values. In the months before his death, he longed to ensure that he had passed his values to his children. He reminded us of his core tenets: never be a bystander to hate and always have a sense of urgency in everything you do.
I am proud to say that I live those tenets in my life. I stand in the world as a woman who on a personal level is not a bystander to hate and has a sense of urgency in the things that I do. However, I know that there is always more depth to being that person, and through NEXUS I have realized that the next step is to go beyond who I am in my everyday life and to look deeper to see whether or not the indirect parts of me, like my investments, fit with my personal philosophy.
I am proud to say that I live those tenets in my life. I stand in the world as a woman who on a personal level is not a bystander to hate and has a sense of urgency in the things that I do. However, I know that there is always more depth to being that person, and through NEXUS I have realized that the next step is to go beyond who I am in my everyday life and to look deeper to see whether or not the indirect parts of me, like my investments, fit with my personal philosophy.
It is time for me to move deeper through the NEXUS Pledge for our Future. And though it is about personal accountability, it is not about me and it is not about pleasing my father. It is about our children’s future and the future of the world. I recently found a letter that my father wrote to his employees which contained the following statement:
“We must each exchange a philosophy of excuses for what we suggest is beyond our control, for a philosophy of personal and group responsibility.
It is often astonishing how short a time it takes for great and wonderful things to happen when everyone in the group is committed to the same causes. Each of us has a motivational spark inside us, and we must each set off that motivational spark in one another.
The future is and will be simply a matter of attitude.”
Please join me in taking a step towards the personal responsibility that leads to real collective action. Please join me in taking the NEXUS Pledge for our Future.
Andrea Lee-Zucker, NEXUS Member & DC City Ambassador
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