It was two days after 9/11. Like many others, I needed to do something, but didn’t know what I could do.

I made a phone call. That led me to the local Red Cross office.

Eventually, it led me to a lifelong passion for disaster management, a profound faith in community, and a firm commitment to what I call “Five Ks of Being a Good Human Being”: Kindness, Caring, Compassion, Courtesy, and Consideration.

24 years later, the divisions exposed by 9/11 are on full display. Civil discourse is no longer civil. The violence and fear tactics we once condemned as tyrannical are increasingly normalized.

I still feel the need to do something. But, today, I know what I can do.

👉 I can lead by example, openly refusing to condone disrespect and violence.

👉 I can embody the Five Ks, and help everyone I encounter feel valued and treated with kindness.

👉 I can promote and support the dedication and efforts of my friends, partners, and colleagues around the world who dedicate their lives to bridging differences and strengthening communities.

👉 I can continue to build Creative Crisis Leadership, empowering people to stand with their neighbors — ALL of their neighbors — to prepare for and overcome crises.

Please join me in my quest to make the world a place where we laugh together rather than cry alone. Take your own actions: Embrace the Five Ks in your daily life, support your local community, and, if you can, consider making a donation to help us inspire action through fun, games, and imagination.

With heartfelt thanks for your support,
— Susanne