Reed College

In her Commencement address, Elizabeth Rush ’06 encouraged graduates to hold tight to the rituals, people, and places that ground them—especially when life feels uncertain.

Read more about her inspiring message: https://www.reed.edu/newsroom/stories/2026/to-this-you-can-always-return.html

Congratulations graduates! 🎓️⁠

We loved celebrating the class of 2026 at Commencement on Monday. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of you.
⁠
📸 Lauren LaBarre

Laura Jedeed ’19 recently returned to campus to give a talk titled: “What is to Be Done? How to Take Action in Horrifying Times.”

Drawing from her own experiences, she shared one piece of advice that stuck with everyone: If you want to change the world, start with soup.

She pointed to a network of community soup nights in New York as an example of how simple acts of gathering and sharing food can strengthen relationships, build trust, and create meaningful change.

Learn more about Laura's work:
https://www.reed.edu/newsroom/stories/2026/why-laura-jedeed-19-believes-true-change-begins-with-human-connection.html