Indiana Center Development

These last few months have been all about the Indiana Center's development. We have been working as a team of national facilitators and coaches to decide what we will be doing in our area and our state. The good work has been accompanied by good times and good meetings. Today we had a retreat in the woods. The meeting provided us with space and time to get to know each other in a way that we have not had a chance to as yet. One participant's reflection mentioned that we were not "retreating" as in going backwards, but actually making space to do the necessary work of thinking now about how to advance.

I thought of it as filling in the spaces we had not been able or had time to fill in before now. It was critical work for our decision-making. We have been able to really look at what our hearts tell us is our work, and it has been very good. We are about a social justice agenda, a commitment to broad influence, a focus on the work of kids as a driver for change in the culture of schools and in the culture of our communities, and an attention to building courageous communities where we can challenge each other even as we comfort each other. I'm missing a few important things that we are about, but those are enough for now. It seemed right to end where we ended and to commit to meeting monthly for deciding the way forward together. I can feel excitement building and am ready to commit to the group. Our energy will eventually attract partners and invite alliances, and I can see already how we might have an impact on the lives of people here in our area and our state.

It was a good meeting.