why we paused for joy again

Last spring we, like many others, were continuing to emerge from the ongoing pandemic. We noticed that just as COVID didn’t actually disappear overnight, the constant feeling of being on the precipice of (if not already experiencing) burnout remained in the atmosphere. Our community was tired, and we weren’t sure when people would get a break. So, we decided to try creating one. We called it "a pause for joy."

Our assumption was that it would be a one-time thing. A sort of communal shaking off of stress and other cuffs that weren’t benefiting us. But the event was a success, we could feel the energy and joy in the air. Afterwards we received lovely notes like:

I wanted to offer my sincere gratitude for your efforts in hosting the “a pause for joy” event last evening. In today’s political and social environments, a pause for joy (or anything else for that matter) is a rare and elusive gift. It’s been a long time since I was invited to eat, socialize, lounge in beautiful space, and just BE.

We knew (and know) that this work to help solve climate change, while also centering racial equity, is long work. It requires dedicated communities of people working together toward similar goals. What clicked after our pause was that just as people need opportunities to practice new skills, they also need the chance to practice resting, being in community, and imagining new relationships and possibilities. Moments like these are necessary for sustaining long-term work.

So, on June 1, 2023, we hosted chapter 2 and a pause for joy officially became an annual event.

the people

The gathering is for our local non-profit grantees, including volunteers and community members who make significant contributions. “Significant” is open to interpretation by our grantees, but we clarify that this is not necessarily intended to include board members. We also extend invitations to select individuals in the public and private sectors, those who we typically call “our partners” because they have done work directly with us in recent years or consistently work in collaboration with our grantees.

Saying “no” to some is uncomfortable, but a necessary part of the process. We want to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment, while sticking to capacity limitations and a budget. It also gives us room to enthusiastically say “bring them!” when parents or other caregivers share that they’ll have to choose between the needs of their family members or attending, or when grantees share that they have an intern starting the day of the event. Both have happened each year.

the event

a pause for joy is simultaneously a love letter to our grantees and partners, and what can be heard on the other side of the universe on days when we scream into the void out of frustration.

Ideally we would have time to thank each person for attending and their contributions to the collective work. But, this isn’t a wedding, so there’s no receiving line. Instead, we include a few personal touches that are especially meaningful to us. They are intended to serve as “hello”s from each of us on the Mobility Team, and include: multiple joyful and restful activities, an element of surprise, curated swag, sassy signage, flowers for guests to take home, and an inclusive food and drink menu that includes frosé (plus other cocktails and mocktails).

photos by Annielly Camargo
view the full 2023 album

In addition to working to ensure that people feel our gratitude, we strive to make room for others by considering the different ways that people find joy at events. Our event planner, Myriam, ensures that in a single venue guests can choose how they’d like to be together – from mingling in a crowd to sitting quietly away from the noise.

We invite individuals to come as they are or want to be. Myriam and the broader team of people who staff the event, make sure that the community is well taken care of. It quickly becomes clear that the most universal human experience is wondering where the bathrooms or closest garbage bins are.

There’s one primary rule: you may not talk about work. It’s not a cocktail hour, it’s a pause. By exploring who we (the collective) are as people and fostering interpersonal connections, we learn the value of each person beyond their jobs and strengthen our shared ability to solve the problems facing humanity.

By exploring who we (the collective) are as people and fostering interpersonal connections, we learn the value of each person beyond their jobs and strengthen our shared ability to solve the problems facing humanity.

We’re two for two on receiving positive reflections and requests to sustain this space. After this year's event, a parent shared with us:

I asked [child] if she had a good time, a great time, or an awesome time tonight. She responded, ‘did you know there’s something better than awesome? I had a WONDERFUL TIME.'

And, an Executive Director who could not attend the event passed along this note from an advocate:

I did not bounce, but the food and drink was excellent, and the company was even better. Met up with some known advocates, who introduced me to some new friends. Got to talk with [municipal senior leadership] about non-streets things and it was great. It was really a pause for joy. Just good people getting together.

Connection, joy, and rejuvenation are essential ingredients for creating the impact that we hope to see in the world. We’ve heard from our community that a pause for joy is meaningful and worthwhile. We’ve already started drafting chapter 3.

view photos from a pause for joy, chapter 1 hosted on june 28, 2022

photos by Michelle Schapiro
view the full 2022 album

Published 07.12.2023