LIGHT Awards 2024 Convening

The convening was a great reminder of the “why” we invest so much of ourselves in our school communities. It was a rejuvenating experience.

In July 2024, the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation hosted its eleventh annual Awardee Convening honoring recent recipients of the LIGHT Awards grant. Awardees from the eleventh cohort were invited to this event, which seeks to honor educators and cultivate connections within and across LIGHT teams, as well as energize the participants as they launch their projects. An inspiring group of 36 teachers representing 9 projects attended this 2-day meeting at Indian Springs Resort in Calistoga, along with the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation team. Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation President and Founder Karen Leshner encouraged attendees to take vulnerable and courageous efforts to connect with one another and celebrate their accomplishments.

As part of the professional learning portion of this year’s Convening, Rosi Greenberg (Everyone Has a Sam) facilitated sessions on public narratives.  In the sessions, attendees reflected on the power of storytelling and had opportunities to craft their own “Stories of Self,” asking the question “What are you called to create in the world?” Rosi described powerful stories as having elements tied to recognizable emotions, vivid and detailed moments, and a clear structure. As educators, Rosi stressed how words have the power to captivate both students and colleagues to inspire them to action. She also shared how, through telling powerful stories, attendees and their project teams could empower others to walk alongside them and learn together.

The talent mapping and core values sessions helped us as a team, and gave us some insights into how to share the tools with the rest of our team and staff, students, and families at school to create closer bonds and understanding in our school community.

Intrepid Advisory Board Members Jen Bloom, Jenny Maehara, Paula Mitchell, and Taica Hsu also facilitated sessions for the educators, providing space to connect and share their project goals and dreams. Jen led a thought-provoking session on Core Values, tying this conversation to how these values reflect in their team and larger work. Taica led participants in a scavenger hunt around Indian Springs that inspired team problem solving and joyfulness. Jenny shared a Talent Mapping activity to help teams discover individual strengths and talents and how this knowledge might apply to team dynamics.

Rosi crafted exquisite, individualized, motivational posters that mirror the dreams of each LIGHT Awards team for their projects. Since 2019, these posters have become cherished and enduring artifacts for the teams, and numerous groups proudly display them in communal areas, serving as a constant reminder of their project’s guiding principles.

The LIGHT Awards convening is a joyous and calm collaboration of educators and community stakeholders that allows us to not only engage in deeper thinking and connection around our important work as educators, but also a celebration of our ongoing commitment to education and learning.