Gather in STRENGTH: Nurturing Connections
Gathered in STRENGTH:
Nurture - Connection Begins with Us
Hey, CHW Strength community!
I’m Stephanie Toney, The Hope Dealer, and today’s Gathered in STRENGTH comes from APHA’s pre-conference!
Today’s pillar is Nurture, because meaningful relationships grow through the attention we give them
WHAT I experienced today?
I arrived in San Antonio, checked in, connected with several people, shared the PHC Scavenger Hunt, and filled three squares on my Public Health Connections bingo card!
Let's talk about my flight....sometimes the bumpiest part of the flight gets all our attention. Turbulence can make us grip the armrest and hold our breath. But the truth is: those shaking moments aren’t the whole story. What keeps us steady is care.....seatbelts fastened, people looking out for one another, and trained hands staying attentive. That’s nurture. In our own work and in our lives, nurture is the steady presence we offer ourselves and each other in motion, not after everything’s settled. It’s a check-in. A pause. A reminder that preparation and support aren’t luxuries. They’re how we move through change without losing ourselves.
So today we’re asking: Where do I need nurture right now? And where can I offer it to someone else? Let’s tend to what’s tender, strengthen what’s growing, and keep moving with care. Hope travels well when nurture rides with us.
The conference is just beginning, and already, there are opportunities to nurture connections that could continue long after we leave San Antonio.
WHY does this matter?
Because every relationship holds possibility, and what we give our attention to has an opportunity to grow.
Today reminded me that nurturing community begins in small moments: pausing to listen, welcoming someone into a conversation, and taking an interest in the person beyond their title.
As Community Health Workers, we invest so much care in others. We also need relationships where we can be seen, encouraged and supported.
That’s what Nurture invites us to practice: care that flows both ways.
As The Hope Dealer, I want to nurture connections where people feel safe to share what they’re carrying and hopeful about what could come next.
HOW can you join me?
Start with one person
Introduce yourself. Ask what brought them here, then give them room to answer. Invite someone into an activity or a conversation. And when a connection matters, follow through. Send the resource. Remember their story. Make time to reconnect.
If you’re here at APHA, join the PHC Scavenger Hunt, work on your bingo card and make room for someone new.
If you’re following from home, reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with.
It’s FREE to join and you can begin right now!
Who will feel more connected because you showed up today?
Let’s gather in STRENGTH and nurture what we hope will grow
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