Did you know today, Thursday, July 2nd, is the exact halfway point of 2026?
As we look to the second half of the year, we’re reflecting on the goals we set together in our annual meeting at the start of 2026.
Each year, our whole team gathers together for an Annual Meeting. This is one of the only times each year where we have the full Emerge team together in one space – therapists & staff from all 3 locations, our school teams, the remote teams we usually only see on a screen, and our Leadership team. It is a great opportunity for us to share reflections from the past year and talk about the vision for the year ahead.
In the past, I have taken this time together to share updates on finances, new programs, updated policies – you might call it the “housekeeping” info.
At the start of 2026, I wanted to take things in a different, more collaborative direction. Instead of talking ‘at’ the team for most of that morning, I wanted to do things that can really only be done well when we are face to face – connect, build relationships, and learn about each other.
While I did share my reflections on the last year, and a peek at the direction we wanted to take 2026, the majority of the time was spent sharing successes, defining the support we need, and envisioning the years ahead together. We left with a list of things we wanted to tackle, and most importantly, a deeper understanding of one another that opens the door to deeper relationship building.
Ultimately, it was the energy in the room and walking away from the day that had the greatest impact on me. A day that, in previous years, could have depleted my energy from streams of updates, answering questions or making sure we stayed on track, had turned into a day that I left from feeling uplifted, hopeful and more connected to our mission than ever before.
That is the energy I felt walking out of our annual meeting, the energy I still feel as we reach the midway point, and it is the same energy that has carried Emerge for twenty‑five years. The path we’re on has its hard edges, and we will keep navigating those together, but I have never felt more confident about where we are headed.
Halfway through 2026, it would be easy to focus on half the year being behind us, or even to say it’s “gone.” Or, we could get excited for what opportunities lay ahead of us in the next 6 months! The story of this year is still being written, and we’re excited and honored to craft the story with all of you.
To the families who trust us with your kids, to the partners who walk alongside us, and to the team who shows up with so much heart, thank you. Here’s to another 185 days of opportunities in 2026, the next chapter of Emerge, and to writing it all together.
This year’s story is only halfway written. Anyone got a pen?
– Brittni Winslow
Owner & CEO, Emerge Pediatric Therapy
