Hello Friends,

Word of the week: Praxis

This week marked our first week of fellowship in Kingston, centered around the word praxis—and how it differs from practice. Praxis is the intersection of theory, reflection and action. It’s not just doing something repeatedly; it’s understanding why we do it, reflecting on how it impacts us and others, and then applying that understanding in real life. Praxis asks us to move with intention, to let our values, learning, and actions inform one another in an ongoing cycle. Throughout the week, fellows were invited to notice where thinking meets doing, and how awareness transforms routine into meaningful work.

It was a week full of firsts! As a group, we got to know our chef educator, Lissy Darnell, while making pizza . From kneading dough to choosing toppings, it was a delicious and collaborative way to connect—and by the end of the program, we’ll be pizza pros. We shared our meal as Dawn Breeze, our Executive Director, kicked off our Table Talk series. Hearing how people’s lives and paths unfold is always powerful and reminds us that life is not linear and everyone carries a unique story shaped by choice, circumstance, and reflection.

Storytelling is a core part of our curriculum, preparing fellows to share meaningful Place Stories through multiple modalities, including oral storytelling, photo storytelling, audio media, and written reflection. Rooted in interpersonal communication and deep listening, this course uses workshops, guest speakers, listening sessions, and collaborative learning to cultivate a calling to Know, Love and Serve our places, a living example of praxis in action.

We also had our first session with Charles Purvis, diving into photography . Fellows took a walk around Uptown Kingston to experiment with light, positioning, and perspective. This work directly supports our storytelling curriculum, encouraging fellows to slow down, observe, and make intentional choices about how stories are framed and shared.

On Wednesday, we visited the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boat School . Fellows stepped into the woodshop to begin creating paddles, learning how to safely use tools like the plane and bandsaw while practicing shop protocols. This hands-on work reinforced praxis through care, precision, and respect for materials, tools, and shared space.

For personal praxis, we visited Kingston Ceramics . Fellows jumped onto the wheel, making bowls or cups. Sometimes setting out to make one thing and ending up with another. The goal wasn’t perfection, but presence: getting familiar with the wheel, the clay, and our own responses to challenge and uncertainty. Personal praxis supports both mental and physical wellness and is a regular part of our Thursday programming, eventually becoming individualized for each fellow.

We also had our first session with O+, whose work connects art, storytelling, and wellness through their annual festival. O+ supports artists by providing access to healthcare in exchange for murals and creative work throughout Kingston. Fellows discussed institutional art versus street art and watched the documentary Street Heroine, featuring some artists who participated in the O+ Festival. Together, we explored questions such as: Who gets to occupy space? Why might it be harder to be a female graffiti or mural artist? What does it mean to have a voice, to be seen, and to belong and where does that intersect with wellness? Murals exist as experiences in both place and time, shaped not only by the artist but also by the people who encounter them.

We wrapped up the week with some fun ice skating at Rondout Ice Rink at The Cornell to kick off our first Field Day, followed by lunch at Rosie’s .

We hope you’re as excited as we are about our 2026 cohort and we hope you had a great week too!

Have a good weekend,

Place Corps Team

:)