ED&I Update by Jackie Keogh

'Tis the Season...

Happy Holidays, WTS Delaware! It was so great seeing so many of you at our End of the Year celebration! As we enter this New Year, keep your personal and professional resolutions in mind. Satisfy your soul, and protect your peace. But most importantly, I would like you to take a quick scan through this newsletter to gain some wisdom and/or guidance on the holiday season. Keep your fellow peers in mind, as well as all the wonderful people in our WTS Delaware community. Though this issue is a bit on the wordy side, I believe it to be important, because not all experiences are the same.

Navigating the Holiday Season with Care, Safety, and Inclusion

As we move through the holiday season, we want to pause and acknowledge that this time of year can be deeply complex. While holidays are often framed as joyful and family centered, that narrative does not reflect everyone’s reality. For many, the season can bring heightened stress, grief, financial strain, loneliness, or complicated and sometimes unsafe family dynamics.

For some individuals, returning home or spending extended time with family can mean exposure to emotional harm, conflict, lack of acceptance, or environments that feel unsafe or triggering. Others may be navigating estrangement, chosen family, or spending the holidays alone. These experiences are valid, and they deserve recognition and compassion.

This season is also marked by many significant religious and cultural observances. In addition to Christmas, we recognize Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which celebrates resilience, faith, and perseverance. Kwanzaa (observed from December 26th to January 1st) honors African heritage and centers values such as unity, collective responsibility, and purpose. Winter Solstice (December 21st) marks the shortest day of the year and is observed in many cultures as a time of renewal and reflection. Bodhi Day, observed by some Buddhists, commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment. Yule,
celebrated in various Pagan traditions, honors the return of light and the natural cycle of rebirth. These observances and many others remind us that this season holds different meanings across cultures, faiths, and identities. Be respectful, but also, learn something! That is what makes this world a beautiful place.

As part of our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, we strive to create space for empathy, understanding, and flexibility. Whether you are celebrating, grieving, setting boundaries, leaning on chosen family, or simply trying to get through the season, you are not alone and you belong in this community!

Please reach out to me if there is anything you would like to see or do, I would love to hear from you! - Jackie

Call to Action

WTS Delaware, I challenge you to check in on your friends, peers, and relatives this season. A little recognition can go a long way. Here’s some quick ideas:

• Practice compassion by checking in on colleagues and peers without assumptions about how they “should” feel this season.
• The holidays can bring up a wide range of emotions: joy, grief, stress, loneliness, or even relief. Many people carry these feelings quietly. A simple check-in can go a long way. This might look like a brief, genuine conversation at the coffee machine (“How are you holding up this week?”), a Microsoft Teams message, or a quick email expressing support. If you have an established level of trust with someone, you might invite deeper conversation by saying something like, “I know the holidays can be complicated. If you ever want to talk, I’m here.” Even small gestures of care can help people feel seen and supported.
• Respect that not everyone celebrates the same holidays, or feels safe or welcomed returning home. Support flexibility whenever possible.
  • Supporting flexibility might mean being mindful about meeting schedules, avoiding assumptions in holiday conversations, etc. Inclusive language like “holiday season” instead of naming a single holiday can also help create a more welcoming environment for everyone.
• Take care of yourself and encourage others to do the same.
• The end of the year can amplify stress, burnout, and emotional strain. Prioritizing rest, boundaries, and mental health is essential and showcasing that behavior helps normalize it for others.

If you or someone you know this holiday season is experiencing emotional distress, feeling unsafe at home, or struggling during this time, seeking support is a strength, not a weakness. Confidential resources are available 24/7, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE). Sharing these resources and reminding one another that help is available can make a meaningful difference. Also, "Help is Here" provides prevention, addiction, and mental health resources to all of DE.