One program. One hundred communities. Three years of building together.
The Great Michigan Gathering is a free, three-year initiative that builds community through the art of intentional gathering. Inspired by Priya Parker‘s book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, the initiative will launch on October 8, 2026, with an event featuring Parker at The Henry Ford. The event will be livestreamed to community watch parties across Michigan.
Through a series of free programs, resources, and partnerships, the Great Michigan Gathering aims to unite communities across the state. Each year deepens the work of the previous year by using a framework that builds on connection, awareness, sharing, understanding, truth, and growth.
The Great Michigan Gathering is designed for organizations whose mission centers on bringing people together. As registered Gathering Partners, organizations will have access to:
- A statewide network of organizations doing this work across Michigan.
- Discussion guides and facilitation tools to lead meaningful conversations at your gatherings.
- Personalized marketing materials to promote programming in your community.
- The opportunity to apply for a Gathering Grant to bring public humanities programming to your community. Grants will be available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Michigan Humanities will reach out to registered Gathering Partners when funding is available.
Here’s how Michigan organizations can get involved today:
- Attend the October 8 kickoff at The Henry Ford (register to attend here), or host a watch party in your community that evening. Michigan Humanities has a goal of 100 watch parties being hosted across the state.
- Share this information with other organizations in your network who should be part of the Great Michigan Gathering.
Program Timeline
September 1, 2026
Deadline to note interest in hosting a kickoff watch party on Gathering Partner interest form to receive a watch party kit in the mail. Any submissions after this date will receive digital materials.
Late September 2026
Gathering Partners receive watch party materials in the mail.
October 8, 2026
Kickoff event at The Henry Ford featuring Priya Parker. Register to attend here.
Contact
If you have questions or would like to discuss program partnership, please contact Estee Schlenner at eschlenner@mihumanities.org.
Register to be a Partner
Book clubs, libraries, churches, schools, cultural organizations, grassroots networks, museums, and other community-based groups are invited to become Gathering Partners.
Gathering Partner registration can be completed online by following this process:
- Submit the Gathering Partner interest form.
- A Michigan Humanities team member will be in touch after the interest form is submitted to provide registration steps.
- After you have registered, you will receive an automated “registration received” email.
Registered partners should incorporate the Michigan Humanities logo, Great Michigan Gathering logo, and this text into external publicity materials and/or intro remarks for Great Michigan Gathering programming: This event is part of the Great Michigan Gathering program presented by Michigan Humanities.