Many of us live under the illusion that if people simply come into the same space, they will automatically begin to know each other. Sadly, that’s just not true.

While each of these small encounters were not in themselves earth-shattering, they brought people closer together and helped us connect across difference. I met some new people who would have not come into my life. Who knows what seeds were sown, even on a cold day? Perhaps hot cocoa is fertile soil for creating the world we want to see.

Simply put, we exist to create space and offer hospitality to help people connect and to bring our neighborhood together.

There’s nothing like giving people skills to navigate the world, to break down the icy barriers of shyness, and to heal some of the parts of our world that need healing.