Dear Friends,

Greetings to you and best wishes for a happy new year! It is a true joy to be writing to you today in my first official communication as Omega's new CEO.

As you may have read previously, Skip Backus is retiring as CEO after serving in that role for 18 years and working at Omega for 40 years. Fortunately, he's not leaving Omega, and will serve as CEO Emeritus this year, and then become Special Advisor. I am tremendously grateful for Skip's leadership and service, and at the same time I hold great excitement and optimism for the work that lies ahead—and for the critical role Omega plays.

I took my first Omega workshop nearly two decades ago at a time when I needed a serious reset. On the heels of recovering from an illness, and in the midst of a demanding job in women's health and raising kids, I signed up for The Joy of Play. It was actually a stretch for me—telling jokes, guessing at trivia, and playing Frisbee. I felt like an awkward goof. But each day I relaxed a little more into the warmth of budding friendships with my classmates. The week's final activity was a slip-and-slide down the big lawn in front of the Dining Hall. Water, suds, and lots of laughter later, the workshop leader came up to me with a big smile and said, "Carla, you get most improved."

His words touched my heart. I took them to mean he was rooting for me—to recover something, to return to a natural state of joy, to connect to myself and to something bigger than myself. He was letting me know that he'd seen it happen. And that is what we strive to do at Omega. We are rooting for people, for humanity, because we know that what we hold in our hearts, the social constructs we create, and the way we treat each other and our planet ripple forward and back.

This is what drew me to Omega. We take an integrated approach to personal growth and social change. We help people connect more deeply to themselves and their communities, and we support caregivers and changemakers to advance a global culture of equality and care. For us, this is the curriculum for being human, and it is the spiritual work of our time.

During my first Omega workshop, I could never have imagined that a year later I would join Omega's leadership team, and then 18 years later I would step into the role of President and CEO. It is an honor to lead an organization that has helped so many, like me, find a greater sense of meaning, purpose, connection—and joy!

As I take on this new role, I believe that Omega is uniquely suited to contribute to the complex and challenging times we are facing. I am heartened and emboldened by the collective spirit of our devoted staff and our ever-growing community of participants, faculty, collaborators, and supporters, not just here in the Hudson Valley, but worldwide.

I hope you will visit Omega this year, in person or online, to join with us in this important work. I look forward to walking—with possibility and purpose—on this journey with you.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthful 2023,

Carla Goldstein
President & CEO