FROM THE MOMENT she stepped on stage, legendary broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff captivated a number of hundred East Bay enterprise leaders — making them burst into boisterous laughter twice inside 30 seconds and erupt in applause quite a few occasions all through the night.
Loujain Habibi is a senior at Liberty Excessive College in Brentwood, and a member of Contra Costa Youth Journalism. (Courtesy CCYJ)
Because the keynote speaker of the primary occasion for the East Bay Management Council’s 2025 Management Collection, Woodruff centered on how communities ought to put aside their variations and work collectively throughout this era of political polarization.
“What you are doing here in the Bay Area with organizations like the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) is a great example for the rest of the country,” Woodruff stated on the Jan. 29 occasion in Harmony. “I wish the rest of the country could see the efforts you make here in this community to work across the divide to solve your hardest problems.”
The aware effort made by the group to work collectively was highlighted by Mark Orcutt, EBLC’s president and CEO.
“We will only succeed in our work through collective action. When one of us raises concerns, policymakers might listen. They should listen, but they might listen. But when hundreds of business and civic leaders speak with one voice about the threats to our economic vitality, they must act,” Orcutt stated. “Through collective action, we ensure that good ideas don’t stay as ideas and that our actions reflect the urgency of the issues we face.”
Bridging the political divide
“This kind of cooperation is possible in a community as vibrant as yours is, so maybe I will take you with me (back to Washington, D.C.),” Woodruff stated, smiling. “You’re not asking are you a Republican or a Democrat, but you’re working together. I wish more of the country could see this and so I’m congratulating you on that.
“I’m saying for that reason, don’t be dispirited by the fighting that you see in Washington, D.C.,” she added. “That will get better, and your generation is gonna make sure that it gets better. We can’t wait … the country can’t wait for Washington to wake up.”
Mark Orcutt, president and CEO of the East Bay Management Council, emphasised that companies and civic leaders will solely succeed by means of collective motion, guaranteeing “that good ideas don’t stay as ideas and that our actions reflect the urgency of the issues we face.” (Ishita Khanna/CCSpin)
The night wrapped up with a Q&A moderated by former journalist Ann Notarangelo, the group relations supervisor with the Martinez Refining Firm. Throughout this a part of this system, Woodruff touched on journalism and its position in informing the general public.
When requested what recommendation she had for individuals who have — and are — dropping religion within the political system, Woodruff responded with a clever gleam in her eyes.
“Just know that American politics goes in cycles. It moves in cycles. We have tough times, and then it gets better,” she stated. “And we can’t give up hope.
“The American experiment is something extraordinary, and we can’t give up on that,” Woodruff added. “We have to keep trying. It’s worth it.”
A particular second
Though the main target of her keynote handle was coming collectively throughout polarization, Woodruff revealed why she cares most about folks with disabilities.
“As much as I love American politics, and as much as I worry about where we’re going as a country,” stated Woodruff, “what I’m most worried about is disabilities.”
Woodruff’s oldest son, Jeffrey Hunt, was born with spina bifida. She stated when he was 16, one thing went flawed throughout a routine surgical procedure, leaving him in a coma for 5 months. Woodruff described how her son was “still the same inside” when he wakened however wanted caregivers.
“I salute all the people who work with (people with) disabilities,” Woodruff stated. “You are the angels walking among us.”
To study extra about Woodruff’s private journey, go to the NIH Report.
Loujain Habibi is a twelfth grader at Liberty Excessive College in Brentwood. This story initially appeared in CCSpin.
