Category: River Roots Redevelopment Column
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Connection Across Differences: Part 4
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation The question we left off with last week was “How do we create communities where differences don’t immediately divide, and where connection is intentional, not accidental?” I ask myself this question so often. Especially after watching the news, which, frankly, I avoid. I prefer to read my news rather than Read more
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Connection Across Differences: Part 3
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Our snippet of conversation last week left off with a thought about processing difficult feelings, like anger, and staying grounded as a way of staying connected through differences. Disagreeing and staying connected. Oof. That has, historically, been really hard for me. Once upon a time I would just…avoid any and Read more
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Connection Across Differences: Part 2
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Last week, we ended with an open question: “Maybe the question isn’t how we resolve every difference, but how we decide which conversations are worth staying in.” That’s an incredibly powerful point. I think a lot about the energy we give to things, to people. The older I get, the Read more
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When Conversation Connects
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation So…what does connection actually look like? Let’s say that we have decided to intentionally nurture connection. Great. Step one complete. Then, we allow ourselves to notice the opportunities where connection can exist alongside our ‘normal’ life. Fabulous. Step two complete. Then…what? What does it actually look like when two or Read more
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Resolution-Adjacent
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Well, here we are – a whole week into a whole new year. This time of year always comes with a strange kind of energy, doesn’t it? A mix of gratitude, fatigue, cautious optimism, and pressure. Because as soon as we re-emerge into the post-holiday world, we’re expected to have Read more
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Truth, Turkey, and Grandma’s Knitting
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation I have a question for you. How do we tell people the things they might not want to hear, but kind of need to hear. And even more importantly, how do we learn to graciously accept that kind of feedback ourselves? It’s been on my mind lately, probably from watching Read more
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Red Light, Green Light, Gratitude
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Last week, I talked about noticing. How travel, or even someone else’s travel story, can jolt us out of autopilot. And it is amazing when noticing leads to a spark which leads to movement which leads to impact. Of course, seeing clearly – sharing your spark, even – doesn’t guarantee Read more
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Seeing What’s There
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation I’ve been sitting with Rachel’s travel reflections for these last couple weeks. If you haven’t read them yet, go back when you have a minute; they’re beautiful, heartfelt, and thought-provoking. There’s just something about stories of somewhere new, somewhere unexpected, that makes your own world feel a little wider too. Read more
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Where Burden and Beauty Coexist
By Rachel Brosnahan This is a bit of a part two to the story I shared last week about my time in Europe. After the Intensive, I spent the second week of my trip traveling through parts of Serbia, Hungary, and Croatia. Some of it was to reconnect with family roots. Some of it was Read more
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Rest, Reconnection, and Renewal
By Rachel Brosnahan You’ve likely gotten used to hearing Selina’s voice in these behind-the-scenes stories, but this week I’m stepping in to share a story of my own—a recent trip that left me full, grateful, and ready to keep going. I’ve just returned from a two-week journey, the first half of which I spent at Read more
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Down for the Count, Digging for Dreams
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation I’ve been down for the count this week – the second casualty in our house to whatever bug’s been making the rounds. I was luckier than Kai, who had the full fever-and-cough package, but still found myself knocked flat for a couple of days. Short of breath. Lightheaded. Even the Read more