“But what do you do?” she pressed.
I had just finished sharing about a gathering we had hosted for community leaders to come together to reflect on wellbeing in tumultuous times. She was looking for something more concrete.
So, I shared the number of sandwiches made by Club Sandwich last week for the Dorothy Day House*. And, I elaborated on the ways in which the community gathers on a weekly basis through the:
- Arts: A space to nurture creativity across all mediums,
- Grounds: Wetlands, wooded groves, and peaceful areas to reflect and connect,
- Wellness Center: A sanctuary for re-centering the body, mind, and soul,
- Wisdom After Hours & Circles: Fostering consciousness for 21st century leadership.
And, very soon,
- The Market: Providing a third place to be and belong.
Our conversation got me to thinking about the three pillars that define our work as a community innovation hub as we press toward wholeness in this threshold time:
Why these three pillars?
Like the three sides of a triangle, these pillars support and deepen one another. Each pillar is essential, and together they provide a framework for addressing the social, ecological, and spiritual divides we face. When integrated, they create the context for flourishing. The image above illustrates the synergy of these three forces coming together.
We believe the whole leader requires the whole person: body, mind, and soul. We draw on the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) definition of wellbeing as an active process of making choices to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellbeing, in our context, is a sustainable state that enables both individuals and communities to thrive.
Regenerative practices offer an integrated framework for soil restoration, sustainable economics, and community development that enhances both environmental health and quality of life. At The Meetinghouse, we see regeneration as not only the restoration of soil and ecosystems, but also the renewal of human relationships.
Our understanding of Wise Leadership comes from 75 interviews with leaders from local, national, and global spheres. The insights we gathered highlight several essential qualities of wise leadership, including decision-making, emotional, social & spiritual Intelligence, humility & continuous learning, ethical leadership, mentorship & development.
Through these three pillars, we seek to provide a place to gather, grow and flourish.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Together we thrive,
*P.S. – In case you’re wondering, Ruby and the Club Sandwich team made 127 complete sandwich meals (deli sandwich/fruit/chits/cookies) and 22 PB&J sandwiches!
