The Convener October 29, 2021

Higher Ground

As we approach November, the month of our “namesake” holiday, I hope you will join me in remembering to celebrate more than just the turkey, football and time with family and friends. The act of thanks-giving—or in other words, gratitude in action—inspired the creation of Thanks-Giving Square and remains an important component of our purpose today.

Just as the Thanksgiving holiday oftentimes brings people together, so too does the virtue of gratitude. Thanks-Giving Square was conceived as a monument to gratitude, and the leaders that founded The Square understood gratitude as a human universal, transcending cultures and faith traditions around the world. Indeed, as scholars and practitioners continue to study and learn, it is repeatedly revealed to us the important role that gratitude plays in the well-lived life.

In the spirit of giving thanks, this month and every month, we are grateful to you – our supporters – for your interest in our work and your contributions towards our community initiatives. Without you, Thanks-Giving Square couldn’t hope to meet our mission of coming together on Common Ground, and moving together to Higher Ground.

Practice Gratitude!

Featured News

Breaking Bread & Building Bridges
Thanks-Giving Square is committed to being more than a commentator on the state of social equity in Dallas. In mid-November, The Square will partner with Café Momentum to launch Breaking Bread & Building Bridges, a series of dinners to address a critical issue in the community – the problematic relationship that exists between police officers and communities of color. The initial event convenes facilitated conversations of import among the dinner guests, a group of officers from the Dallas Police Department, and the young interns working through the Café Momentum program.

Using the model established for “Together We Dine” by Pastor Richie Butler as part of his Project Unity initiative, facilitators will lead small groups at each table to explore the tension that exists in our community between people of color and the police. After uncovering a series of frank and revealing personal stories over dinner, the sessions will enter a “Town Hall” formatted segment. Moderated by faith leaders from the Thanks-Giving Foundation’s Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square initiative, the group will work to extract and summarize insights from the unique experiences and perspectives shared in the small groups.

These evenings will be intellectually and emotionally impactful for participants, evoking perspective, empathy and understanding. Through self-examination and reflection, each participant will be challenged to acknowledge, validate and respect the diversity of the community, and the universal right of all people to stand on equal ground and seek a thriving, flourishing life.

Thanks-Giving Square is honored to work alongside Chad Houser and the amazing team at Café Momentum, and to partner on this important work with Project Unity, The Dallas Morning News, The University of North Texas, Dallas, and The Dallas Mavericks – among others.

Random Acts of Kindness
Thanks-Giving Square is partnering with Dallas Police Department officers during the months of November and December to enable random acts of kindness throughout the Dallas community. With your support, The Square will help purchase food, toys and winter clothing for law enforcement officials to distribute to those in need.

If you would like to contribute to this initiative, you can donate online via our website at www.thanksgiving.org/bekind/ or by mailing a check to:

Random Acts of Kindness
Thanks-Giving Square
1627 Pacific Ave.
Dallas, TX 75201

2021-2022 Faiths in Conversation series – Sikhism & Justice
Join us on Monday, Nov. 8 for Christianity & Justice, the third installment in our Faiths in Conversation series. This session will feature Pashaura Singh, Distinguished Professor and Saini Chair in Sikh Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of four Oxford monographs. His work on the Adi Granth (sacred Sikh scripture) and early Sikh history is widely noted.

His monograph, Life and Work of Guru Arjan, was on the “Best Sellers List” in India (The Tribune, August 6, 2006). His most recent monograph, A Dictionary of Sikh Studies (Oxford University Press, 2019), was launched on Oxford Quick Reference on April 15, 2019 to commemorate Guru Nanak’s 550th Birth Anniversary. In addition, he has co-edited nine volumes, including The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies (OUP 2014).

Faiths in Conversation is presented by the Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, SMU Perkins School of Theology, and The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, and co-sponsored by The SMU Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life, The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Cultures, and The Dallas Bar Association Equality Committee. In this series, our scholars discuss how different religions understand justice in theory and practice, and as a historical ideal. The themes explored in the series include human rights, human dignity, social justice, human responsibility, and social order.

Register Now

Upcoming Events

YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas – Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 25 | 8:30 a.m.
Dallas City Hall

Did You Know?

In 1977, The Thanks-Giving Foundation conducted research and created a video titled “Light a Flame of Thanksgiving” telling the story of the American Thanksgiving tradition. To watch the video, click here.

Gratitude Spotlight

Expressions of gratitude left by visitors on our Gratitude Wall.

Partner Feature

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history.

Donate to Support Our Work

If you have suggestions or comments, please contact tgs@thanksgiving.org.

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1627 Pacific Ave, Dallas, TX 75201

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