05/29/2026
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a celebration of some pretty bright and remarkably intelligent teens who completed an after-school program provided by Wisdom Thinkers Network.
I learned so much from these teens, and my heart is overflowing with appreciation for friends Sandy Rivers and Penny Morley who along with Lisa Cavallaro, Ruth Riddick, a few others, and me, are working as a new board to support youth and families in our community.
While I could list the needs of teens and fill a book, what I loved about last night’s incredibly open and inviting presentations was that I received new information about what teens actually say they need. Some of what they shared would never have been on my radar.
What a privilege to gain new perspectives from people who are living a very different experience than my own. Even better, to be welcomed for trying to relate, knowing we will mostly struggle to do so because our experiences are different.
The word “trying” came up throughout the night.
Trying to understand.
Trying to belong.
Trying to be heard.
Trying to navigate a rapidly changing world.
Trying to become who we are.
And perhaps that was my biggest takeaway.
Not that teens need adults with all the answers.
They need adults willing to listen, learn, show up, and keep trying alongside them.
I loved the energy in this house. It was full of grace and vacant of shame.
At Wisdom Thinkers Network, that’s exactly what we’re doing through story-based, experiential programs that help young people reflect, connect, and discover their power.
The organization exists to create programs for people and communities that may otherwise go unserved and to organize volunteers and community partners around that purpose.
If you’d like to support this work, as a volunteer, community partner, donor, mentor, or simply someone willing to learn alongside a next generation of leaders, we’d love to connect.
The future is already speaking.
Last night, I was reminded how wise it can be when we stop long enough to listen. ❤️
