For the Common Good

We live in a time when empathy is sometimes treated with suspicion. Influencers urge us to become our own personal brands. Public life often rewards theatrical egos, chest-thumping and mockery. Social media platforms amplify outrage and vanity. Millions of us now try to make a living simply by attracting attention to ourselves—while our AI thought partners assure us we’re remarkably insightful.

Selfishness seems to be having quite a cultural moment. (Perhaps the BIGGEST and BEST cultural moment ever!)

The pre-school teachers who taught us all to share, respect each other and listen … are probably very disappointed in us right now. Listening to the internet these days, they might think selfishness has won.

But step away from the drone of a million online monologues and the blinding glare of all those ring lights, and something else comes into view.

You might see a muralist transforming ordinary walls into shared works of art. Or the rainbow-splashed, spangled and feathered garb of radical nuns spreading joy through charitable action. You might hear stories brought back from the Arctic Circle by a conservationist working to elevate underrepresented perspectives and protect vulnerable ecosystems. Or the purr of a cello in expert hands. The captivating voice of a soul singer bringing genres, roots and individuals together.

From artists to engineers, entrepreneurs and investors, there are those swimming against the currents of narcissism, striving to act in ways that benefit everyone and rooting their decisions in what helps the whole community thrive – now and in the future.

For the Common Good seeks to spark and deepen conversations among people like these, exploring new ideas for addressing some of the biggest challenges facing our shared future—climate change, food security, housing, representative democracy and immigration.

Join us in celebrating the strength of community and engaging in the challenging, collaborative work of turning “me” into “we”—and reminding ourselves that the future is something we build together.