March Forth

Did you realize that March is the only month that is also a command?

It calls us to move. To act. To step forward with intention.

It also holds a quiet play on words—March 4th—the only day on the calendar that sounds like an instruction of its own: march forth.

And perhaps that’s exactly what this moment in the year invites us to do.

March sits at the edge of seasons. It carries us out of winter and toward renewal. The days stretch a little longer, the air softens, and there’s a sense—subtle but unmistakable—that something new is possible. It is a time to reset, to refocus, and to recommit to the work ahead of us.

Let’s march forth.

March is also a time to honor and reflect. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize the countless women—past and present—whose leadership, resilience, and vision continue to shape our communities and our future.

March is also National Social Work Month. Here in Chicago, we are especially mindful of the legacy of Jane Addams, widely recognized as the mother of social work. Through Hull House, she reimagined what it meant to serve—centering dignity, community, and the belief that those closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions. In many ways, there would be no Primo Center without the foundation she helped lay. Our commitment to trauma-informed care, whole-family services, and meeting people where they are reflects her enduring insight: that stability is not built through isolated interventions, but through relationships, trust, and a holistic approach to well-being. Her legacy continues to guide us—not just in what we do, but in how we do it.

This month, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel with one of Primo Center’s valued partners, Covenant House. They share our vision for a world where everyone has a safe place to call home, and they live that mission every day in their work with young people experiencing homelessness.

What stayed with me most was the opportunity to be in community with their residents. Their questions were thoughtful, probing, and deeply grounded in lived experience. They reminded me that leadership is not just about providing answers—it’s about listening, learning, and being willing to grow alongside those we serve.

That spirit—of reflection, renewal, and forward motion—is what March calls us toward.

So as we move through this month, I invite all of us to consider:
What does it mean for you to march forth?
Where is there an opportunity to begin again, to lead with courage, or to take the next step—however small—toward something better?

Let’s not stay where we are.
Let’s march forth —together.

Felicia