However it’s mythologized, the story of the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 highlights a moment when people had to learn how to live differently in order to survive in a new reality. Through the application of Indigenous and local knowledge and by implementing strategies that built resilience among all community members as well as the systems they were creating to work with one another, leaders emerged to carry their communities forward. The concept of gathering as an opportunity to share our resources and our insights on how to approach the following “spring” has caught on in other countries as well, and may remind us of other activities in November when we are invited to share our ideas.
Thanksgiving reminds us that success is inspired when we listen, adapt, and build together across differences to create new business models, ways of working, and platforms for engagement. As we move through this season, I’m reflecting on the kind of leadership that arises not from certainty or control, but from vulnerability, relationship building, and in celebration of our shared survival. It’s the kind of leadership that listens to someone who’s lived experience may be unfamiliar, whose truth may stretch our own. This spirit of openness is echoed in the founder of Giving Tuesday, Asha Curran’s TED Talk, How Acts of Kindness Sparked a Global Movement: She reminds us that generosity is not just about giving—it’s about seeking meaningful connection. I invite you to experience that connection here at The Meetinghouse: whether it’s in The Market, at a concert, in a yoga class, at an art show, or any of the other occasions we have to come together, you are welcome here.
This season, I invite you to be open to learning from someone whose perspective broadens your own. Listen deeply. Let’s keep coming together.
Dr. Fanta Waterman
Director of Leadership and Community Empowerment
