Letter from Leadership: New Year, New Possibilities

What if in 2026, we forget about resolutions? Instead, what if we embrace this year as one full of possibilities?

Hear me out. A resolution sounds so ... limited. And likely to fail. Plus, why is there pressure to pick just one? I don’t know about you, but in my work and personal life, I want to accomplish more than one thing this year!

So, what if instead of declaring a single resolution, we explore possibilities all year long instead? Lots of people get a gym membership for their resolution around this time of year. But if I’m not using my gym membership, maybe I need to try hiking, or line dancing, or lift soup cans like weights in my kitchen. The same thing applies across so many situations – just because you try one thing that doesn’t work out, it doesn’t equal failure.

Here at GCDD, we’re thinking more about possibilities than resolutions. That’s especially true this year, because we’re in the middle of creating the strategic plan that will drive our work for the next five years.

Thank you to the hundreds of you who shared your thoughts with us. Thank you to the staff who’ve worked hard to gather and present information. Thank you to our Council members, who have spent hours learning and thinking, and giving us the first directions about what kind of plan they want to see. Some of the early talks have focused on community connections, self-advocacy, access to information and resources, and thinking of “special needs” as “human needs”.

This month, we’ll be presenting the draft ideas for the plan to our Council members. In the spring, we’ll be sharing the draft plan with you. I’m eager to see what you think and to get started on the next chapter of our work together.

I hope 2026 is a happy, healthy year for you, full of going after new possibilities all year long.

D'Arcy Robb 
GCDD Executive Director