When I left the “Bridging the Gap Between the United States Virgin Islands and Africa” Mini-Summit, I carried conflicting emotions. Inside the Westin ballroom, the future of the Virgin Islands felt bright and expansive, asimpressive as the resort’s floor-to-ceiling view of the Charlotte Amalie harbor. Presentations highlighted the Virgin Islands’ geographic position as a gateway to the Americas, VINGN’s fiber infrastructure, and Africa’s rapid adoption of blockchain and mobile money. The gulf between the future being imagined and the daily struggles of Virgin Islanders is real. Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer.