In her 2021 book Finding the Mother Tree, forest ecologist Suzanne Simard discovers that when trees that have survived fire, wind, clearcuts, and more and sense they may not survive a coming threat, they pass their energy fully onto the ecosystem that has sustained them, while they’re still strong enough to do it. “Facing an uncertain future,” Simard writes, “(the Mother Tree passes) her life force straight to her offspring, helping them to prepare for changes ahead.”
We write to you first with gratitude, with love in our hearts and hopes for healing, joyful community amidst the challenges we’re living through together.
Next, we write with some news: After months of contemplation, discussion and careful consideration, CDE’s board and staff have decided to wind down the organization over the months ahead and sunset our beloved organization near the end of 2026. Sunsetting after 16 beautiful years was a challenging decision. And we fully intend to live to our edges over the next months and co-create space for healing, storytelling, community, and joy.
CDE’s shared mission is and always has been timeless. The work for collective liberation, radical love, compassion, and shared, joyful vision can happen anywhere, anytime – and has always been dependent upon all of us. Our thriving, beloved community has embraced leadership that ebbs and flows with shifting formations. So, when CDE’s official structure does go away, the work itself will continue to move forward through all of you, not only continuing but thriving, meeting every new challenge and opportunity the path forward might bring.
Over the year we intend to co-create and hold spaces for idea sharing, community building, and belly-laugh-celebration. Together, we will remember, we will connect, we’ll gather in kinship, and weave stronger connections. Together, we carry on.
Octavia Butler said it another way: “Change is the one unavoidable, irresistible, ongoing reality of the Universe.”
We embrace change. We embrace you. Our hearts are full of love, joy, and gratitude for the community that is CDE. Please reach out and join our time of healing and celebration of this phenomenal, catalyzing journey toward justice, peace, and thriving liberation.
CDE’s virtual story circle project, In Their Own Words, and our Kinship Gatherings will continue. We invite you to share your story through In Their Own Words or talk story in our Kinship Gatherings.
With love,
All of us at CDE
For more context and information about CDE’s sunset, visit our FAQ page.