The week before Passover, I learned about the passing of Margot Stern Strom. It struck me how much of Margot’s life and teachings echoed the traditions of Passover, asking us to remember our shared history, pass down the knowledge to the next generation, and learn in community so we gain compassion and empathy for all others who are persecuted.
It’s time we reframe the meaning of “boys will be boys” and honor their deep emotional needs for relationships of all types. Because at the end of the day, relationships are the foundation of a meaningful life.
Our narrative change strategy is born out of a deep desire to foster a culture of empathy, trust, connectedness, and collaboration for every person living in the United States: one where belonging is core to our shared values and responsibility.
Disconnection and rupture are part of life. Our work in the science of connection demonstrates that the key to feeling calm and secure is to repair and reconnect, over and over again.
As an eternal optimist and tinkerer, I thrive on being at a fork in the road. I love knowing that lessons can be learned from reflection and that beautiful opportunities are right at our feet, waiting for us to take the next step. And the truth is, we don’t need to wait for the new year to do it.
It’s in moments of reflection, when we take a step back to look at a cross-section of our own “trunks,” that we can see a concentric pattern of rings emerge, giving us clues about the conditions and magnitude of emotions we attach to formative experiences over our lifetime.
What is something that you believe is not working in our society today that you could help tend to and maybe even solve by building something better?
Small moments of connection are what we need to build trust, a core element in any healthy relationship, before we can come together to solve bigger societal challenges.
On the last weekend of August, residents and visitors lined the streets in Black Rock, Connecticut swaying to the electrifying music coming from dozens of residential porches, yards, and driveways. But Black Rock Porchfest is so much more than a music festival; for many, it fosters belonging.
A collection of books curated by Jenn that will hopefully bring you joy, awe, ingenuity, provocation, and “aha!” moments as we work to build a culture of belonging.
