NFG’s April Newsletter: a moment of connection with our convening Co-Chairs

From Chi: "I encourage funders to use their time in Wilmington to engage in intentional rest and dreaming. Through those pathways, the authentic connection will happen with the place and space they occupy and the people attending the convening. It is also for many people the first time engaging in the community after years of being virtual, so I recommend that people pace themselves.

Finally, I invite funders to think about what they can do beyond the money. Can you volunteer with a group? Share a healthy eating tip with a fellow funder. Create a self-care accountability group. I hope we can think of how we can show up for each other beyond the ways we move money."

Connection to ourselves individually. In the spirit of self-care and co-care, listen to your needs about how you would like to engage in community. This may involve things such as more rest and having individual time for decompressing and rest, sharing meals, dancing together, etc. Connection to others is not necessarily about quantity but creating the right space for you to show up and be present.

Connection to the land and community. If you are able to, take advantage of the opportunities to learn about the place — including the learning visits, and conversations with grantee partners and funder partners about Wilmington and Eastern NC. Immerse yourselves in the historical context and its implications for our work now, ask questions, and be present.

Connection to peers. Build authentic relationships at the human level in addition to the work. For me, it helps to ask questions to understand what drives others, what renews their hopes in times like this, what practices ground them, and what they do for fun. For me, it's about the possibility of co-creating an authentic space where we can get our guard down and bring our full selves. When we connect at the human and value level — beyond our roles — visioning together and co-conspiring becomes easier."