Stories Are the Medicine, and Connection Is the Revolution
People ask me why I care so deeply about connection in schools. The answer isn’t found in a textbook or a leadership course. It’s found in my childhood.
960+ educator trainings later, we’ve learned one core truth: true connection must come before learning. Connection isn’t just a module at kid-grit, it’s the air we breathe. A recap of a very human and beautiful summer retreat.
Before we opened a laptop, we talked. What would success look like when we drove away three days later?
For the last four years, Michelle and I have built kid-grit side by side. Together we’ve developed a rhythm that only comes from working through wins, setbacks, pivots, and growth. We know each other’s strengths, we challenge each other’s thinking, and we’ve built something we’re incredibly proud of. Jeffrey and I ‘brainchilded’ kid-grit in 2016 and opened our doors in 2018. This company is built out of love for kids and firsthand experiences with childhood trauma. This retreat wasn’t about replacing that rhythm. It was about expanding it.
Pinebush, NY, Retreat Location, 2026
Jeffrey has officially joined kid-grit full-time this year, and our goal wasn’t simply to add a third person to the team. It was to intentionally build a leadership trio where everyone felt trusted, prepared, included, and empowered. Simultaneously, this meant creating space for Michelle to confidently step into our new partnership strategy while ensuring Jeffrey wasn’t joining an existing conversation but rather becoming part of creating a new one.
One of the first conversations we had wasn’t about sales, curriculum, or operations. It was about magic. What has always made kid-grit feel different? Why do partners trust us? What do people experience when they work with us? Somewhere in that conversation, we realized we weren’t trying to preserve what had worked for two people. We were discovering the Power of Three. Three perspectives. Three experiences. Three people willing to challenge one another without challenging our shared purpose.
When one person gets stuck, two others can create momentum. When one person sees risk, another sees opportunity. When one person is carrying too much, there are two others ready to lift. That isn’t just more capacity. It’s a different kind of leadership. It’s the kind of leadership I have dreamed about.
Marvelous Michelle, Pinebush, NY, 2026
Throughout the retreat, sticky notes began covering the walls. One of them became our compass.
A. A world where human connection is our greatest advantage.
B. A generation that is thriving, prepared, and productive.
C. Human connection is the foundation of education.
Sticky notes are our favorite!
We kept coming back to those three ideas. Every decision. Every workflow. Every conversation about partnerships. If it didn’t move us closer to that vision, it didn’t belong. Because strategy isn’t simply about becoming more efficient. It’s about becoming more intentional.
Then something unexpected happened. When we picked up our rental car in New Jersey, we looked down and saw a beautiful mosaic of the Eastern Goldfinch, the state bird of New Jersey. Gold. Black. Gray. The colors looked strikingly familiar. It felt like someone had quietly welcomed us before we had even begun. We laughed, snapped a picture, and decided to take it as a reminder.
The Goldfinch symbol welcoming us to the retreat.
Sometimes, when you’re doing meaningful work, little moments have a way of reminding you that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Outdoor Meetings, Pinebush, NY, 2026
We left Pine Bush with clearer roles. A stronger partnership strategy. A leadership team built with greater intention. But what I’ll remember most isn’t the spreadsheets, the workflow diagrams, or the planning sessions. I’ll remember moving from room to room as the conversations evolved.
Coffee on the deck. Laptops spread across the dining room table. A quiet afternoon working in the living room. The laughter over dinner. Cooking together. Sharing a bottle of Whispering Angel and whisky after a long day of thinking. The incredible farm-to-table meal. The naps we gave ourselves permission to take. And the calming outdoors.
Another comfort, not only the wine, the angel title, we are a company that has had many angel visits.
Because companies aren’t built only through plans, Zooms and especially not through bureaucratic systems. They’re built through people. And this is us!
At kid-grit, we spend every day helping schools and youth serving organizations create cultures where human connection is the foundation for learning. This retreat reminded us that the same is true for us. As we grow from two leaders to three, our greatest strategy isn’t simply adding another person. It’s intentionally building the relationships that will carry the next chapter of kid-grit.
After all… If we truly believe that human connection is our greatest advantage, then it has to begin with us. I’d love to hear how you are building connection with your team! Shoot us a note: Julia@kid-grit.com
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