Days like this
New to the area, it was always going to be a bit of a gamble pulling off an event as ambitious as a winter Gathering for Connection, Creativity and Change ‘in the middle of nowhere’ in N.E. England.
And the Rural Peace Hub was covered in snow and inaccessible the weekend before! But it really couldn’t have gone better – no snow, just mud, and a full house of dynamic individuals – mainly women – from a richly diverse range of professions and backgrounds – artivism, climate activism, coaching, community building, education, farming, gardening, medicine, multicultural art-making, participatory art, peacebuilding, poetry – a magical mix.
Feedback from participants summed it up … distilled into a poem by myself (avoiding the temptation to ask AI to do it, following my kids’ advice).
Days like this ….
bring hope
help us to stay positive
open up possibility
nourish our souls
build connection
spark new thinking
Days like this …
are full of learning
inspiring
fascinating
thought-provoking
heartwarming
enjoyable and fun
uplifting
Days like this …
instil a sense of community and unity –
a feeling of momentum and motivation for change
The formula:
food
infectious enthusiasm
warmth and hospitality
kindness and generosity
wonderful space, beautiful location
energetic, like-minded individuals
extraordinary collective of interesting thinkers and artists
creativity
diverse voices
sharing personal stories
making art together
exchanging ideas
The smooth running of the 12 hour event – hanging artwork, signage, parking, food and refreshments throughout the day for 30, keeping the fire stoked and literally topped up with logs – was down to 5 fantastic volunteer helpers and the dedicated Elana (Newcastle University intern). Huge thanks to them.
More about the event here >>>
