So starting reaching out. As you do, keep a few things in mind:The Covid-19 pandemic and protests against systemic racism are affecting almost everyone in some way. It’s hard to think of a time when a few singular events had such broad and wide reach lending a sense of shared reality that is unprecedented. But these challenges are not affecting everyone in the same way, so you need to be really mindful as you reach out.
” From there you can pivot to questions about you and your interests, like “what are the best jobs for someone with my background?” or “which classes are best for gaining new skills?” If they don’t have an answer to certain questions it’s worth asking if you can point you to someone else who might know. These conversations will lead you to other connections, to more questions and, ultimately, to answers.It’s always better to take a long term view when you are connecting with people.