YOU! HAVE THE POWER  | Happy New Year … or is it?

BY DR. ELLEN W. BROWN

We made it. 

The questions of where we made it to, when we arrived, why we are here — and even why not — all rushed front and center the moment the bell rang, ushering in 2026 one second after midnight. 

Whatever occupied our hearts and minds in that sacred hour, however we felt about the uncertainty of what comes next, one truth remains: when the Good Lord blesses us to see another year, we are called to be spiritually prepared and grounded for the challenges ahead. 

The blessing is that we made it. The responsibility is what we do next. 

As we move forward, we must carry our prayers, our celebrations, and yes—even our fears — about the unknown threats and inevitable changes that lie ahead. Preparation is not just spiritual; it is communal, intellectual, and intentional. 

Before the bell rang, I reflected on several lists circulating across platforms and publications — lists of concerns shaping conversations for 2026. From those, I borrow ten critical topics that demand our attention: Economic Justice, Housing, Healthcare Access and Quality, Educational Equity, Public Safety, Voting Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, Gender Equity, Technology, AI, and Digital Equity Access, and Environmental Justice. 

These are not abstract ideas. They are lived realities. 

Which of these issues compels you most? What’s missing from this list? Your insights matter. Our lives are filled with opportunities for connection and understanding through meaningful conversation. Whether those discussions are serious and contemplative or casual and jovial — because sometimes we must laugh — what matters most is that we seek opportunities to engage deeply and thoughtfully. 

Understanding leads to activation. Activation leads to change. And at the center of it all is power. 

Everyone possesses power in one form or another. Power can be used to create good, to amplify harm, or to wrestle with the tension between the two. What makes power meaningful, however, is action. 

Voting remains one of the most visible expressions of that power. A 2024 Tufts University report revealed encouraging trends among Black youth, showing increased civic engagement that extends beyond the ballot box. This shift may be tied to growing participation in churches, unions, and social organizations — with faith communities leading the way at 29 percent. 

Our youth are not just the future; they are the present. 

Here in Las Vegas, the Black community continues to step up and step out with a clear focus on empowering young people. Beyond the classroom, our churches, schools, youth organizations, sororities, fraternities, community-funded initiatives, and even neighborhood-based programs are creating pathways for growth, leadership, and purpose. 

As we move deeper into 2026, the question is not whether challenges will come — they will. The question is whether we will meet them prepared, united, and ready to act. 

The bell has rung. Now it’s time to move.  

I welcome your input, questions, and ideas for topics; feel free to send them to ebrown.nci@gmail.com