The idea of We-sdom was born during a recent reunion call Leslie facilitated for the “7 Faces of We” cohort from the Discovering Wholeness workshop led by MEA faculty member Ben Katt. As the group shared, what moved her most was how a roomful of strangers had become a circle of trusted friends in just a few short days. They spoke about how safe it felt to open up, how quickly they went deep, and how meaningful those connections continue to be. Listening to them, it became clear — they weren’t just talking about friendship. They were describing collective wisdom in action. This happens every week, in every workshop here at MEA. And, Leslie has been a core part of this movement from nearly the very start.
We talk a lot about wisdom — as if it’s something earned alone, stored in one person, one book, one expert. But real wisdom doesn’t always live in isolation. It can live in connection. It lives in We-sdom.
We-sdom is the understanding that wisdom is not taught down from the top — it is shared across. It grows when stories are exchanged, when experiences are voiced, when listening is just as valued as speaking. One person may carry insight, but together we carry perspective.
Collective wisdom is collaborative and expansive. It invites many truths into the room. It makes space for different paths, cultures, mistakes, and breakthroughs. In community, what one person sees as a dead end, another sees as a doorway. What feels heavy alone becomes lighter when held together.
We-sdom reminds us that we are better together. That connection is not a luxury — it is a source of strength. In shared spaces, wisdom becomes living, breathing, evolving. It becomes something we practice, not just something we know.
When we choose community, we choose to grow wider, not just wiser. We choose We-sdom — where insight is multiplied, not owned. Where understanding is shared. Where healing, creativity, and possibility expand — together.
-Leslie
Leslie Bartlett is VP of Alumni and Corazon Membership at MEA. She has witnessed the community grow to more than 8,000 alumni from 59 countries and has seen We-sdom come alive across workshops, online courses, local chapters, and special events and she’s taking a lead role in MEA’s Alumni Homecoming June 11-14 in Santa Fe. A certified life coach with a master’s degree in spiritual psychology, Leslie is also a certified End-of-Life Doula and Hospice volunteer, bringing deep compassion and presence to her work. Based in Colorado, she is a devoted mother of two and finds joy in nature, live music, and creating spaces for meaningful connection.