What a joy to spend a week serving as the Friend of the Week at Quaker House Chautauqua. It was full of deep dialogue, seeking understanding across difference, educating one another on the issues of the day, and building community for a better world.
The theme of the week was the Future of the American Experiment and included talks by an array of speakers from the Brookings Institute and AEI. It also provided fertile ground for hosting talks about our work at FCNL and how we can continue the struggle to become the country we seek to be.
I’m grateful for the wonderful hospitality, friendly welcome, and much needed respite of Quaker House and the whole Chautauqua community.
And my conclusion after this week of learning and listening is simple: The future of the American experiment depends on us.
The American experiment has always been a struggle. We have never lived up to the United States we ought to be. But our ancestors didn’t give up on the long road to peace and justice and we will not either.
Thank you to everyone who made this stay possible, to all those who came to our events and shared your insights, and to everyone I met and learned from throughout the week. The world we seek still awaits us. I’m excited to keep building and growing with you.
