We're Château People Now
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to find the words to describe what happened at the Community Council retreat, and honestly? I’m still not sure I have them. It felt like watching a dream I’ve been carrying around for years finally step out into the world, look back at me, and say, “Okay, we’re really doing this.”
And what surprised me most wasn’t the château (though yes, it absolutely understood the assignment), or the programming, or even the meals that were abundant, comforting, and laughter-filled. It was how people showed up.
It was realizing the hardest facilitation moment of the entire program would be convincing people to come back from small-group discussions because they were so deep in conversation.
It was hearing people who met hours ago making plans to visit each other’s cities.
It was the joy (and honestly, the relief) of building community with community builders. No warm-ups, no 101s, no convincing anyone why this work matters. Just saying yes, and diving in, together.
It was the way 18 strangers walked into a space and instantly behaved like they’d found something they’d been looking for.
I’ve never run an event where I left thinking, so strongly: oh… we just started something.
In the end, what this week offered wasn’t necessarily a new insight, but a quiet affirmation of a belief I’ve long held: that it’s the tiny details, the intention, care, and spaciousness of an experience that allows people to relax into themselves and let others in. Seeing that play out in real time, and the impact that had (and continues to have) on all of us, truly meant something.
I don’t say this lightly, this was the most fulfilling program I’ve ever been part of.
And yes… we’re doing it again this April 🏰
📚 Reading List | Community Book Club
We asked the Community Council community what their favorite books on community were (proving once again that you can fit the word community in a sentence three times). What came back was a joyful mix of business classics, beloved fiction, and full-on dystopian adventures. Which, honestly, feels exactly right for a group of people who see community everywhere.
The list was too good to keep to ourselves, so we’re starting a Community Book Club.
We’ll read through the list together, maybe add a few surprises along the way, and we’d love for you to join us.
💎 Internet Treasures:
- The Gatherer’s Guide: Community legend Exa Kutler has started a newsletter sharing the ‘recipes’ behind gatherings. It’s an incredible resource for facilitators, hosts, and community builders seeking practical tips for designing experiences with intention and care. They had me at Euchre Club.
- The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences: speaking of clubs, a new survey from The Verge and Vox Media addresses this moment of internet fragmentation.
✨ Something to Try
I recently attended a Pulse event (also known as my favorite morning business rave) with Raw Signal Group. While I'm still buzzing from the content of the workshop itself, there was a tiny facilitation moment that made me absolutely swoon. When they sent us into Zoom breakouts, they gave the simplest instruction: the person with the next birthday goes first.
Instantly, no awkward silence. My group discovered all three of our birthdays were within three weeks of each other and we dove right in.
If you’re sending participants into a breakout, a small group, or even a paired activity, give them a clear starting point. It’s amazing how much smoother everything flows when no one has to decide who speaks first.
Until next time, keep gathering with intention.
—Christina
Founder, Community Council & BoardingPass
