AFF’s Resolutions for 2019

I’ll be ringing in this new year buried in the hills of West Virginia, spending the weekend with friends, good food, and making big goals. I hope you all have some similar plans. For 24 years AF has cultivated careers, relationships, networks, and communities around the country, and it is thrilling to think about what lies in store for the future. I thought I’d share five “resolutions” we’ve set at AF to help guide our work in the new year.

1. We’ll put you first: AF exists to champion young talented leaders who believe, as we do, in the potential of every human to achieve great things if only they are free to do so. In 2019, we pledge to always put you, our community first. We’ll celebrate your successes, help you through your challenges and introduce you to others like you across the country. As we design events and products, we’ll always put your needs, and your experience first.

2. We’ll get local: In 2019 we’ll be making sure we tend to our own backyards, while also demanding increased freedom on a national scale. This means our chapters will be encouraged to look around their cities and to seek opportunities to promote freedom, whether that’s on the local governing board, at the neighborhood street festival, or in the Chamber of Commerce. We believe in the power of civil society, community, and private action- and we’ll work to support those options at home.

3. We’ll keep our heads up: Threats to freedom are all around us, from intrusive licensing authorities to the NIMBYs in our neighborhoods and yes, even in the halls of the White House. We pledge to stay awake, stay alert, and hold our leaders accountable; defending the ideals of liberty wherever we can. #headsup

4. We’ll stay positive: We believe in a worldview that values every human life, and we work to limit government so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in whatever path they choose. That means we will keep a positive and respectful tone, not tearing others down, not attacking, but rather focusing on creating the society we think leads to the greatest outcomes; a society built by respectful neighbors trading peacefully with each other.

5. We’ll strive for excellence: The defense of freedom deserves passion and energy, but even more so, it deserves excellent execution. We pledge to improve our processes, enhance our skills and work towards producing the highest quality programming.

It’s been quite a year, and we can’t wait to work with all of you in 2019! Happy New Year!