August 3, 2020

Hello Everyone,

Over the last few months it has been harder to connect with people in person. I have been thinking more about the value of connectivity, and the different forms it can take. I very much appreciate that we have been able to keep book club going virtually. I am looking forward to seeing everyone next Tuesday and hearing about what you bring for our BYOBook event. I say book, but please feel free to bring an article or a podcast, anything you would like to talk about with the group. I am a bit late in sharing this, but I recently found out that July 30 was the UN International Day of Friendship. From the United Nations website , the value of friendship is described below.

“Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world's peoples.

To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.

Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.”

I thought this was an interesting description of the enormous value of friendship and connection.

Three things

Something to Listen to

Encyclopedia Womannica has a number of 5-10 minute episodes highlighting women throughout history. The subjects covered range from mediaeval queens to silent film stars. I enjoyed the episode on Eleanor of Aquitaine .

Something to Look at

Does anyone still send mail? The post office recently released stamps featuring the work of Ruth Asawa . She had a fascinating and eventful life. Asawa spent time in a Japanese internment camp, studied at Black Mountain College, and created graceful wire sculptures that are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Something to think about

Daria Pahhota is the Global Communications Leader at SOM, moving there after having worked at BIG. She discusses the value of communication, as well as the need to stay current on events in order to situate your work in the context of the time.

Best,

Alexandra