01/31/2026
The past several weeks has been emotionally heavy for many people in Minnesota and across the country. In moments like these, fear, grief, anger, and uncertainty rise quickly to the surface. As leaders and as neighbors, we feel that weight too.
In the Stillwater area, leadership is shared. The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, and our many community partners work side by side to welcome visitors, support local businesses and non-profits, and create events that reflect the best of who we are. That shared responsibility is especially evident in the World Snow Celebration, which exists through collaboration among the Chamber, the city, volunteers, artists, and sponsors.
This event matters deeply to all of us.
When tensions are high, leadership is tested, not just by the decisions made, but by how those decisions are communicated and experienced.
We want to acknowledge this clearly and collectively: in a fast-moving and emotionally charged moment, our response did not fully reflect our shared values. Leadership is not about perfection. It is about the humility to pause, reflect, and adjust when something does not land as intended.
At our best, the Stillwater area leads with empathy.
That value is one that the Chamber holds deeply. It means recognizing that people bring their full humanity into our shared spaces, including artists, residents, visitors, business owners, and volunteers who are living through real fear, grief, and uncertainty. Art, in particular, has always reflected the times we live in. It gives shape to emotion and creates space for connection. That role deserves respect.
At the same time, shared community spaces depend on shared understanding. Events like the World Snow Celebration are built on shared expectations that enable people from diverse backgrounds, including our international friends, our community, including families and children, to gather in a spirit of welcome. Maintaining that balance between empathy and responsibility is not easy and requires ongoing care and communication.
What this moment has reinforced is that how we lead matters just as much as what we decide. Processes without compassion can feel cold. Boundaries without listening can feel dismissive. That is not the kind of leadership we aspire to and it is not what our community expects from us.
Looking ahead, we are committed to learning from this moment and turning reflection into action. The Chamber will be engaging more intentionally with artists and community members, inviting their voices into ongoing conversations about how we host, communicate, and steward the World Snow Celebration. We strongly believe that collaboration strengthens trust, and that trust strengthens the future of this event. We are just starting that process and will share more as we move forward.
Stillwater has always been at its strongest when we choose steadiness over defensiveness and humanity over haste. That spirit is shared by the many partners who care deeply about this community.
I am proud of the people of the Stillwater area including the community leaders, volunteers, and civic partners who continue to show up with care, patience, and a willingness to listen. Together, we can move forward with greater understanding, clearer communication, and a renewed commitment to lead - collectively - with empathy.
Moments like this do not define Stillwater. How we respond, learn, and lead together does. We hope you will join us as we all learn and grow together.
