It is difficult to ignore the divisiveness in our country. It is almost palpable. Its wounds puncture headlines. Institutions that once stood as pillars of compromise and collaboration have been violated by the throws of partisan politics. In the middle of it all, we are left weakened by division. Ending this discord lies in embracing our common humanity through service – something the nonprofit sector models daily.

Oklahoma’s charitable sector is as vast and as diverse as our state’s demographics. Its causes range from food insecurity to mental illness to animal welfare and everything in between. No one is out of its reach or outside its capacity. If someone (or something in some insistences) is in need, a nonprofit is ready and willing to help. There are no contingences on political party, race, creed or religion. We help others without question or expectation. We serve in the spirit of service by looking past labels and seeing that which binds us – our shared human experience. By focusing on our similarities, we are better able to relate, to understand and to help others.

One of the most remarkable things about Oklahoma’s nonprofit community is its ability to rally around a common goal. When COVID-19 swept across the nation, sector leaders dropped whatever alliances they might have held and united to help. Coming together to address the needs of others can instantly erase divisions. The importance of charity supersedes any political or social label, thus we become servants of the greater good, moving towards a common goal.

If we are going to successfully recover from the economic, social, emotional and mental impacts of COVID-19, we must – as Oklahomans and as Americans – abandon the rhetoric that emphasizes our differences and focus on what brings us together. Nonprofits have proven time and time again that this is not only possible, it is the only way forward.