Last night, I got a big reminder...
Dear Parents, Colleagues, and Friends,
I have been inspired to do this work because I personally know the difference that one person, one neighbor, one connection can make in your life both as a child and as an adult. Yesterday, on National Good Neighbor Day, I was reminded again of that deep power.
As I was preparing dinner last night, my doorbell rang. When I went to the door, my neighbor and his two children greeted me with big smiles. One daughter was holding this vase of flowers and the other had a gift bag of brownies. The girls had made the brownies to give out to neighbors, and the flowers were a congratulations/thank you to me for working to get an official Connecticut Good Neighbor Day date and proclamation from our governor.
Surprised and touched, my eyes filled up as I gave them my thanks. And I write this, my eyes brim with tears again. This unexpected, beautiful, kind gesture moved me deeply – I felt cared for, appreciated, valued, and seen. I feel the swelling of my heart in my chest.
Last night reminded me of two truths.
1) That we often don’t realize how our actions and kind gestures towards another person impact them, and
2) that through their actions, parents are teaching their children what they value, what is important to them, and how their children can make a difference in someone else’s life.
National Good Neighbor Day might have been yesterday, but like birthdays, you can choose to celebrate on a day that works better for you! Plus, the US Chamber of Connection’s Welcome Week and Block Party USA’s American summer run through this weekend. What small thing can you do?
I hope you can join me for one or more of the following happening this week:
DOROT
People often wonder “What is the best way to cultivate connection in my community?”
If you’re looking for actionable and impactful ideas on how to get started with connecting common threads in your neighborhood, we’re having a conversation you’ll want to be a part of.
Join me tomorrow, September 30th at 2 pm ET, for the final session in Weave Social Fabric Project and DOROT’s four-part series focused on how we strengthen social connections in our community. Join us as we outline practical ways to transform neighborhoods into places for connection.
The panel includes:
Vanessa Elias, founder, Block Party USA
Arica Gonzalez, executive director, The Urban Oasis
Amy Schenkel, pastor, Local Mission, Neland Avenue Christian Church
Claire Solomon Nisen, LMSW, MPH, SIFI, manager, Lasting Impressions, DOROT (Moderator)
Over Zoom, free. Register here for the Zoom link!
BIG READ
I'm joining Weave: The Social Fabric Project's BIG READ, and I'd love for you to join me! I first read “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen” by David Brooks two and a half years ago, right when it came out. I loved it and wanted everyone to read it.
So I’m obviously thrilled that from October 1st through November 5th, thousands of us all across the country will be reading it together. It’s a book about how to really see the people around us, and let them see us too.
Connection has to start somewhere, and many of us are curious about how to do that effectively. This is a low-lift, high-impact way to do it. You don't have to host anything or go anywhere! You just have to read and show up online for discussions. Be a part of something bigger and just read and join us.
What it looks like:
📖 Read at your own pace, maybe a couple chapters a week?
💬 Join weekly conversations (I’ll be joining as a guest facilitator on 11/5 at 3pm)
to connect with other readers and share your reflections
🎉 Celebrate together with the author David Brooks himself on November 5
Register for free here and let's read this one together.
Finally, just a reminder to join me today, Tuesday, September 29th from 3:00-3:30 PM ET, for my office hours if you have any questions or need any support organizing your neighborhood block party. You can click here to join or use the Meeting ID: 820 0975 1912.
I hope to see you there!
PS: We are in our last week of American Summer! Had a block party this summer? Submit it here to make it count towards your state’s total! Which state will have the most block parties?
