When we first posted about the Signpost Sessions in late December, we laid out a vision. A space to slow down, witness what’s happening, and figure out how to respond together.

Since then, we’ve been in conversation with our leadership team and with some of you who’ve reached out. And we’ve realized something important:

We can’t ask for vulnerability before we’ve built trust.

This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget in our rush to “get started” or “produce something.” We initially planned to dive straight into prompts and submissions. However, that approach, however well-intentioned, prioritizes the project over the people. It treats this like a program when what we actually need is a community.

The Tension We’re Holding

There’s a tension here that we want to name openly.

On one hand, we have a structure. We have themes (See, Sense, Show). We have a timeline (January through June). We have ideas about what might emerge.

On the other hand, we believe communities can’t be engineered. They have to evolve. They grow through listening, through responding to what people actually need, not what we think they should need.

So we’re trying to hold both. Structure enough that people know where to show up. Flexibility enough that the community can shape itself.

This is why we’re starting with connection before content. With presence before productivity. By building a container that enables honest witnessing.

What’s Changing

Before we invite you to share your stories, we need to establish a sense of trust. That means this week we’ll share:

  • Wednesday: Our community agreements. Not rules, but the “strong spine, soft heart” principles that guide how we hold space for each other.
  • Friday: The practical ways to participate. How to connect, where to show up, and what to expect. All designed for low friction and real lives.

These aren’t bureaucratic steps. They’re foundational. They’re how we signal to each other: This space is for humans. You can be honest here. You can struggle here. You can show up as you are.

Why This Matters Now

We’re living through a moment when many of us feel isolated, overwhelmed, or stuck. Whether you’re working in schools, community organizations, grassroots movements, newsrooms, or just trying to make sense of your own life right now, the systems around us feel strained. The traditional answers aren’t working. And yet we’re still expected to perform competently, maintain optimism, and keep going.

What if we created a space where we could be honest about that? Where can we witness what’s actually happening, in our communities, our organizations, and our own lives, without immediately having to fix it or spin it into something positive?

That’s what we’re trying to build. Not another professional development program. Not another webinar series. A place where people can find each other and figure out what comes next, together.

Building in Public

We’re building this while we fly it. That means we’re learning in real time, adjusting as we go, and staying responsive to what emerges. It means we’ll make mistakes and course-correct. It means the community will shape this as much as we do.

If you’ve been following along since December, thank you for your patience as we’ve found our footing. If you’re just joining us, welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

The real work of connection begins this week.

#init4eachother #SignpostSessions

“Trust” by Pro-Zak is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.