Winter Solstice of 2024, I sat with an old friend in the shadows of early evening. We spoke quietly, as we each shared what we were leaving behind in the dark, before lighting candles to talk of what we hoped to grow for ourselves with the growing light.

“I want to leave behind a belief that good politics means living in a state of anxiety and dread,” I said. I had become sure that, though the election outcomes of that year were surely reason to feel agitated and anxious, we could not meet the challenges of 2025 working only from those emotions. Even now, as we see those outcomes morph into their harmful consequences, I remain convinced of this. Love, care, a sense of self-worth and dignity, a belief in community — these are what will allow us to conquer the forces of hate and greed.

What did I want to increase with the increasing light? “Focus and friendship.” I wanted to find a path I could commit to, and I wanted to “find my people,” to figure out how I might really show up for others in these times.

And now, here I am, just over a year later, in a place I could not have predicted, but which is surely the outcome of that moment of intention-setting. In early 2025, I had been to Peace House before, had volunteered once or twice for meal prep at Uncle Food’s Diner. But that was all. So it has been a year of learning about the long history and deep roots of this institution, and finding all the ways it has helped shape life here in Ashland, the county, and beyond. And I am still learning. But it seems that at Peace House I have found focus and friendship both, and most certainly, a means by which to take action in these endlessly difficult times. I’m looking forward to finding all the ways to show up for you, my new community, in the coming months.

And I have been overwhelmed by all the kindness and support and the ways I have seen all those involved with Peace House show up for us in this moment of transition. Thank you, thank you, to everyone helping steer us through this, especially our board, and all those who have been helping put us on a stable financial footing for the coming year.

Just this week, we’ve had a supporter come forth to match all new donations made during January, up to $10k. So if you’ve been considering making a donation and haven’t yet, now’s a great moment. Recurring monthly donations, which are especially impactful for small organizations, will be matched at their full value for the year. Donate, and be a part of helping set the foundation for us to face these times together, not from a place of anxiety, but from a base of love and a sense of community.

In continuing building our foundations and community both, we’re starting off 2026 with more ways for you to engage with Peace House and to get to know its new and old faces. This month, we’re beginning two occasional series: first, “Tea with the ED,” when you can join me for tea in the Peace House kitchen for casual conversation. Come ask all the questions you want, and let’s get to know one another! This month we’ll be hosting these from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday, January 12th, and Thursday, January 29th.

Second is a topical “brown bag” series, where we’ll make space to address the heavy issues of the moment in a friendly environment. The first of these is Friday, January 23rd, at noon, when we’ll have the opportunity to put the current events in Venezuela into the broader context of U.S. involvement in Latin America, with the help of Peace House Board Chair Jim Phillips. Bring your lunch and your willingness to learn; we’ll have coffee, tea, and snacks to share.

And save the date for February 14-16, when we hope to bring you a diverse set of programs with local partners to think about how we can take action together. We’re calling it “Love is Justice in Public” (as Cornel West so famously put it). Come join us for a new way to honor love on Valentine’s Day, and a new way to look at leadership for President’s Day. On the agenda so far: refusing war through tax resistance, and strengthening the 4th Amendment Workplace campaign in Ashland to protect our neighbors from ICE. More details soon.

Now more than ever, as each day brings hard and harder news, is the time for us to gather together. So I hope to see you at one or more of these events. And I thank you again for the warm welcome and the chance to serve our community through Peace House.

With gratitude and hope for the coming year,

Your new director,

Meg