As we close the second and final day of the WAVES Festival, I find myself struck by a profound sense of gratitude — for what we experienced, what we learned, and most importantly, for the community we created together. If Day 1 laid the groundwork for discovery, Day 2 became a resonant call for authenticity, connection, and action.
What we heard today wasn’t scripted. Yet, over and over again, a central truth emerged: this is the process by which we change narratives and, in doing so, change our communities. Not in some far-off future but starting right now.
Honoring Legacy and Embracing Kinship
Before we dove into the day’s reflections, I paused to honor the late Conrad Prebys and the legacy he left for this community — a reminder of the extraordinary impact philanthropy can have when rooted in love and care. I also offered deep thanks to our board and staff at the Prebys Foundation, our brilliant collaborators at GMMB, and especially Susan Feeney, who brought incredible voices into the room. This gathering happened because of their vision and labor.
And yet, what matters most now is what we carry forward. Because what’s being asked of us is not business as usual. We’re being called to redefine kinship — beyond silos and beyond short-termism. In a time when the world feels increasingly fragmented and fragile, we need to show up differently.
Five Invitations for Our Future
As I reflected on everything we heard today, five key invitations emerged — calls to action I believe we can all embrace, both as individuals and as a collective:
1. Care Differently
Barry Edelstein’s focus on empathy reminded us that community starts with how we show up for one another. We must make space in our hearts and lives to truly dust off and identify with others — to care not just for, but with one another.
2. Listen Differently
In an age of constant noise, real listening is radical. It requires turning our devices from transmitters into receivers and attending deeply to what is said — and what is left unsaid. Listening, truly listening, is how we begin to understand the soul of a community.
3. Speak with Honesty and Vulnerability
David Brooks unexpectedly embodied a profound vulnerability and authenticity, transforming his talk from mere commentary into a deeply human and personal story. When we speak honestly — sharing our own stories rather than abstract ideas — we build bridges of understanding. Our stories, told with truth and heart, can transform others.
4. Reframe Hardship as Renewal
Over and over again, we were reminded that struggle is a gateway to rejuvenation. Whether it was about aging, city design, youth engagement, or aspirations for the future, our speakers urged us to see challenge as an opportunity to design a better world — for the whole of the human experience.
5. Act with Courage
Irwin Jacobs left us with a powerful reminder: progress demands audacity. The impossible dream, not the manageable goal, is what spurs real movement. It’s up to us to aim high, then take the first brave step toward making it real.
A Poetic Reminder
To close, I turned to poetry — as I often do when prose can no longer hold the weight of emotion. A passage from Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, rang especially true:
“Call your spirit back.
It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment and human abuse…
Welcome your spirit back from its wonder.
It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together.
They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.”
This is our work now — to gather what has been scattered, to mend what is broken, and to carry the extraordinary energy of these days into every ordinary day ahead. We have the power to piece together what has fallen apart, to build upon the themes of rejuvenation and reframing we heard today, and to embrace the possibilities that define the gift of our time. I am grateful to be part of a community like this, surrounded by fellow travelers on this journey. Let’s ensure that we go farther — together.
What Comes Next
What happens now is up to us. Many of you have asked if WAVES will return next year. The answer? We hope so — but we need your voices. A post-event survey will go out shortly, and we ask that you tell us what resonated, what can grow, and how this gathering can best serve our shared future.
Until next time, may we continue to live with empathy, honesty, and hope— and may we carry the extraordinary energy of these days into every day that follows.
With deep gratitude,
Grant
