photo courtesy Pexels

Highlights from this year’s posts, reflections on the core values that guide us:

“I am intentional about trying to create spaces for intergenerational connection and learning – because we are lacking due to that impact. I think it’s very important we are building intergenerational connectedness, and recognizing the importance of it. Not just on a family level, but on a community level.” –Gamaliel Gammy Moses (Cohort 16), Re-Building Intergenerational Connection

“In our family, it was about who you be as a human being. It was not about ambitions and material stuff; getting rich and all that was definitely only on TV. It was about living your life and being a decent human being, using your talents and skills for good.” –Esther Armmand (Cohort 4), The Unbroken Line of Disenfranchisement (Part 3)

“I decided that instead of setting lofty expectations, I’d practice temperance. And patience. And discipline. And grace. And gentleness. And kindness. And empathy.” –Hannah Milliken (Cohort 31), How Self-Love Made Me Move

“When the Herald calls, you’re supposed to go tell the story. Sometimes the message isn’t for you, it’s for someone else.” –Cornell Wright (Cohort 3), Heed the Herald

“Providing individuals with equal opportunity in employment aligns with my core values of equity and inclusion… helps to facilitate innovation, improves workplace culture, and most importantly, it brings meaning to an individual’s work and personal life.” –Danielle Chiaraluce (Cohort 5), Neurodiverse Youth & Employment Equity

“We need each other if we ever hope to create a world built on love…” –Kevin Ewing (Cohort 8), The Way of Forgiveness

“This also made me into a bridge-builder… I enjoy (and am very comfortable) utilizing my cross-cultural counseling skills and representing a wide array of faiths, cultures, and traditions from a universalist Muslim perspective.” –Anita Sharif-Hyder (Cohort 27), Me You

“I am a lifelong environmentalist. Living sustainably as a counter to our culture’s over-consumption has been a core value, especially as a parent.” –Lori Martin (Cohort 19), Recovering & Sharing Food 

“Take care of myself first. The reason why I say that, is because it has been proven to me that when I take care of myself first, I’m better for other people.” –Dr. Amanda Kemp (Cohort 16) Interview

“There would be a chapter, ‘What I’m Learning About Life From My Cat,’ including: It’s ok to be selfish. It’s ok to sleep… Be there for people in their time of need, even if you don’t say anything. You don’t have to yell or roar to get your point across, a simple meow will do…” –Ann-Gela Holloway (Cohort 24), Learning About Life From My Cat

“It reminded me of CLP: we’re sharing information about the journey ahead, imagining the possibilities. I recommend looking at each other like fellow travelers, trying to imagine others as travelers where each has important information about the destinations ahead.” –Bill Graustein Interview

“I think honor helps to give – not permission – priority to the things that are important in your life. And because they are a priority, I think they’re easier to integrate and keep at the forefront.” –Nancy Roldán Johnson (Cohort 10) Interview

“…when it’s all said and done, the one thing that guides me in every path of my journey is commitment to my faith in God. I filter how I function in all areas through that.” –Dorthula “Dottie” Green (Cohort 5) Interview

“A first step in my ‘beginner-hood’ was to give up ambition and mastery. The harder step was to let go of competence, the core value that had always helped me feel strong and useful. To be a beginner, I had to let it go.” –Laura Berry (Cohort 4), The Joys of Beginning (Again)

“I tend towards Integrity, Contribution, Creativity, Health (of self, others, and the so-called natural world or environment), and Learning.” –Lara Herscovitch (Cohort 10), Singing From Italian Balconies

“Bottom line. It’s the most fundamental tenet of our faith – just be kind to one another. Be kind.” –Erik Clemons (Cohort 8)

“…we all come to this earth with infinite worth, regardless of what family structure or societal structure we’ve come into. We’re all worthy. There’s a deep strength and power in being humble.” –Marina Rodriguez (Cohort 22) Interview

“…over the past few years I’ve come to realize if I want to live authentically, I have to remind myself of my power to choose.” –Jezrie Marcano-Courtney (Cohort 30) Interview

“For me, the work is really around leadership as bringing people together in shared meaning-making so that we understand deeply how we are each experiencing the world…” –Dr. Angela Frusciante (Cohort 16) Interview

Curated by The Circle’s creative director & editor, Lara Herscovitch. To reach Lara directly: thecircle@clpnewhaven.org or Lara@LaraHerscovitch.com

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