Choosing connection in 2026

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! Truly happy.

This year, 2026, and the 250th anniversary of America, has me full of hope.

As I reflect on what made our independence possible in the first place, I keep coming back to this: our interdependence on one another. We did not get here alone, and we will not move forward alone.

Now is the time to act with intention. To make our relationships, not our tasks or our technology, the priority. Like our forefathers, we must be brave. Be the first to reach out. Say hello. Introduce ourselves. Make (regular) plans to be together.

“How?” people ask.

“Who has time for that?”

You do.

After food and shelter, our relationships and the feeling that we matter are the most important pieces of our survival. And yet, with the pace of our lives, our cultural and self-imposed list of “shoulds,” and the lure and drain of technology, we’ve drifted from one another.

Small, local gatherings are one simple way back.

January is the perfect time to imagine what kind of community you want around you this year: on your street, in your building, or in your neighborhood.

So this is your official invite for Block Party USA’s January Zooms / Office Hours:

Thursday, January 8th

12:00–12:30pm ET

and/or

Monday, January 26th

3:00–3:30pm ET

Sign Up Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CtGwDsXW3OxBIxhhWkTsbjtvZJ2yQRmtCiOANE6Ld54/edit?pli=1

Come learn, ask questions, or simply listen in. Whether you’re thinking about hosting something this winter, planning ahead for spring, or just curious about what’s possible, this is for you.

Together, each in our own neighborhoods, streets, and buildings, we can create connection, community, and a life worth living.