Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of two conversations—very different settings, but centered around the same urgent issue: gun violence.
In San Francisco, I joined
GIFFORDS for their Celebration of Courage, where I had the privilege of moderating a discussion with Steve Kerr, Lesley Hu, and Emma Brown. Hearing from leaders like Gabby Giffords and Nancy Pelosi was a powerful reminder of both the urgency of this work and the resilience behind it.
A few days later, during SXSW, we hosted a smaller gathering in Austin in partnership with GIFFORDS and the team behind Louder Than Guns, a film by Ketch Secor and David Greene that explores the human impact of gun violence through a distinctly American lens.
We brought together a group of leaders for a screening, followed by dinner and a conversation about where we go from here.
What stood out to me across both moments is how important it is to create space—for listening, for dialogue, and for perspectives that don’t always get heard in the same room.
At
inKind, we spend a lot of time thinking about the role businesses can play in shaping stronger communities. Restaurants, in particular, sit at the center of that. They bring people together in a way that few other places can.
These gatherings weren’t about having all the answers. They were about creating the conditions for more thoughtful, constructive conversations—and recognizing that progress often starts there.
Grateful to everyone who helped make these moments possible, and to those continuing to push this work forward in meaningful ways.