Orientation for the Creative Community Leadership Institute was last night at Intermedia Arts. Intermedia is a creative space that already has a cherished place in my heart: exhibiting there, house managing for Fringe Festival, seeing great shows and events, etc. Joining a circle of artists and community organizers there to kick off 4 months of this intensive learning community centered around arts as a social change agent feels so natural. I was nervous, and haven’t slept well all week in anticipation, but I was so happy and grateful to be able to be there, be present, and start the process with an engaging, genuine, caring group of people (see all our bios and happy mugs here).

It was also the second time that I’ve found myself at Intermedia sitting next to a fellow Carleton grad without realizing it right away. (I ended up next to Anna Minkina purely coincidentally at a Give & Take event once). I’m honestly not sure whether Lucas Koski looked familiar to me yesterday due to graduating from the same class almost 8 years ago, or whether I recognize him more recently from his work with Bedlam Theatre. Probably some of both. Anyway, it was a sweet bonus discovery. I know Amanda Lovelee as well through Irrigate events; the rest of the faces are fresh yet vaguely familiar. Several people commented on the feeling that we all probably have only two degrees of separation; someone said she could see