Friends,

In the words of Potawatomi scientist and scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer:

“Gratitude is so much more than a polite ‘thank you.’ It is the thread that connects us in a deep relationship, simultaneously physical and spiritual, as our bodies are fed and spirits nourished by the sense of belonging, which is the most vital of foods. Gratitude creates a sense of abundance, the knowing that you have what you need. In that climate of sufficiency, our hunger for more abates and we take only what we need, in respect for the generosity of the giver. If our first response is gratitude, then our second is reciprocity: to give a gift in return.”

Earlier this year Guilford College was fortunate to host Robin on our campus. For those of you who attended Robin’s talk at Guilford or have read her writing, you know that messages of mutual dependence, gratitude and reciprocity abound for her. My email started with a quote from her 2022 article “The Serviceberry” in Emergence Magazine. Robin wonders how natural systems and gift economies —based on gratitude, interdependence and reciprocity -- might inform economic systems. As we are in the month of November, which happens to be National Scholarship Month, I hope that Robin can serve as an inspiration for us. Our world is filled with messages of scarcity. Our campus community has certainly faced its fair share of challenges. If Robin is right, we can make a difference by being grateful, recognizing abundance and giving back in meaningful ways.

There is so much about Robin’s notion of reciprocity that aligns with my experience at Guilford. The people make this place special and many deep relationships enrich our community. At our best, we build on the Quaker ethos to effectively cultivate each person’s gifts to nurture and celebrate the light in each person. If we think about the many connotations of the word “gifts,” they can be physical and spiritual. There are gifts we possess, gifts we’ve received by being part of the Guilford community and gifts we offer to others. I consider it important to give back to Guilford whenever I can.

You are a valuable part of this community. I hope you have experienced some value in your connection to Guilford College as a community and as a Quaker-founded liberal arts institution.

On November 28, Guilford College will celebrate Giving Tuesday, and if you are able to make a gift, the General Scholarship Fund will be a priority for the College. The gift you make, a gesture of gratitude and an act of reciprocity, matters more than the amount. If we all do our part, we will be stronger for it.

Giving Tuesday is still a few days away, but you can make your gift now by mail. You can also give to Guilford online. Make sure to indicate Giving Tuesday with your method of payment to be counted as a donor for the giving day, and thank you for your support of Guilford College!

Kindest Regards,

Kathryn Shields

Professor of Art

Associate Academic Dean