“The world of humanity has two wings -- one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to the world of men…can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

We are learning a lot about equality these days. How all humans are equally susceptible to viruses and other zoonotic diseases. How humans with darker skin colors are equal to those with lighter tones. How women can equally contribute to the development of local communities and national economies. I want to explore this concept of women’s equality, and the value of women in leadership, particularly in creating new, just solutions for this rapidly changing world we live in.

Many of yesterday’s talks at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Conference were about our support communities. How do we connect with them? What do they want? How can we be resources for them? How can we inspire conservation action? I particularly liked what Jess Niven-Kohring, from the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, said about creating “Brave Spaces” of/by/for their communities. Let’s explore this more here.