Viola's Core Principles

and Vision for Leadership

Over my 107 years, change has been a certainty of life. I've seen two World Wars, the world landscape, and plenty of encyclopedia facts change. I've seen man-made laws help and hinder, while drugs and violence ravage communities and take lives. I've lived through the wrath of Mother Nature: the dust bowl droughts, tornados, polio, H1N1, the 1918 Spanish Flu & Covid-19 pandemics, the Great Depression, and the aptly named Tulsa Race Massacre on Black Wall Street. I've seen science applied in nuclear bombs, space travel, biotechnological health, artificial intelligence, solar energy, and wind turbines.

The pain and suffering resulting from slavery, war, fear-based oppression like the burning of Black Wall Street the loss of family, friends, a home, business, educational and financial opportunity have impacted people, their communities, and nations for generations. Our global challenge is not to replace or recreate what has been lost or not attained but to understand suffering. Then to realize and know to never inflict such wounds again. We are all driven by unique interests, but health is the golden thread; it alone will make you wealthy and wise.

I've met sinners, sages, presidents, kings, and angelic saints; some are wealthy educated, while others are impoverished by educational, material, and faith-based standards. I rarely meet another as old myself. My years demonstrate that life brings joy, sorrow, complexity, and change. Equality and justice are mere words; people create possibilities. The color of your skin or the size of your bank account does not dictate your character or growth potential; development takes many forms.

Strength comes from our experiences, compassionate mentors, and caregivers throughout life. Everyone needs a hand sometimes. You can overcome life's challenges and tragedies to triumph; if you possess peace of mind, health, and sound support structures. Solving challenges, not recreating or getting stuck in the past, requires us to realize and honor diverse perspectives. The devil is in the details; let's not overlook them as we eagerly create unlimited opportunities that connect, advance, and move us forward.

Fundamentally people are the same. We need clean water, air, quality food, safe spaces free of violence to rest our heads, raise children, learn; love, be loved, and respected. We want to belong to our communities because they allow and support us to explore our best. When our basic needs are met, we become freer to dream and learn.

I would like the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation to work as a vehicle, taking us from possibility to a justifiable and equitable reality. I want this to be a forum where the best and brightest work together in an operating environment that embraces advanced knowledge and technologies to improve lives, including the life of our planet! Our methods becomes a framework for doing the right things, for the right reasons, because we care and value our sustainability and survivability. I want to create opportunities that renew hope and diminish stress. Let's level the playing field by making essential knowledge available, get it to people who need it, and support them in being healthy and self-sufficient.

Before I catch my wings, I've entrusted my grandson to fulfill these dreams. Please support his efforts to assist people in being healthy, wealthy, and wise. No child should have to suffer. I now ask you to continue forward with strength and the Lord's blessing. Stay faithful and dream big while surrounding yourself with good people who support real success. Please continue this as my life's work.

Sincerely,

Viola Ford Fletcher
January 11, 2022