Phylisha Villanueva composes a poetic tribute titled “Hope for Us is a Deep Current,” reflecting on the legacy and leadership of Ken Jenkins, Westchester County’s first Black County Executive. The piece delves into the themes of history, resilience, and the enduring nature of hope.
Villanueva writes about a leader needed in turbulent times: “We need someone that will help us believe, serve steady with trust to reflect the sun like the Hudson, a river that never forgets the villages and voices that carried us here.” Her words articulate a call for leadership that embodies care and courage, especially amid challenges to freedom of speech and historical understanding.
Throughout the poem, Villanueva draws parallels between hope and the natural force of the Hudson River. She emphasizes: “Hope for us is a deep current. It moves with persistence, shaped by natural forces. It is inevitable, a gift, a force that carves through barriers, connects past to present.”
According to the poem, true leadership is not only a metaphorical construct but requires tangible action and movement. Villanueva asserts, “We do not need just metaphors, we need movement. We need voices to rise beyond the podium, to shape the world like water, to break silences the way the Hudson breaks against the shore.”
The poem is a reflection on legacy, “covered by ancestral winds,” underscoring a cycle of generational progress, described as, “a generational ebb and flow continuously rising like rain returning to the sky.”
The text suggests that impactful leadership involves carrying forward the lessons of history while fostering resilience and renewal. It is a message that resonates broadly, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the past and present. Villanueva’s words culminate in a call to action, underscoring that “Leadership that sounds like care and feels like courage” is the deep current propelling forward change.
