How long is 150 years? Sure, it’s a decent span of time. But consider that only in the last 150 years, two very important decisions were made:

  • Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865. (147 years ago!)
  • Women were given the right to vote in 1920. (92 years ago!)

How about 40 years? Now we’re talking within our own lifetime! Consider that only in the last 40 years, these decisions were made:

  • Homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973 (39 years ago!)
  • The right to marry was first extended to same-sex couples by a US jurisdiction on November 18, 2003, by a state Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Massachusetts. (9 years ago!)

Realizing that these decisions are fairly recent in our history is both surprising and a little shocking. One way that change can occur is as a result of social movement. Social movements can happen when folks collaborate to make a difference. But what does it take to embrace and institutionalize change?

How can we accelerate it?

 

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