As I sit down to write this year-end message, I find myself reflecting not just on numbers, but on the human energy those numbers represent. The data tells a powerful story of a community that didn’t just grow, but deepened its connections and expanded its reach.
A scholar recently wrote that TSA is more than a place for learning; it is a community “where people genuinely cared about helping each other grow.” That sentiment is the heartbeat of our work. It is what transforms statistics into meaning.
This year, your support fueled that community in tangible ways. Our global community now stands 875 strong, welcoming 175 new members. The reach of our shared knowledge extended through publications, with 26 new articles in TSA News and our 2024 Symposium Proceedings surpassing 6,500 downloads. We distributed over $2,000 in direct support through three grants and awards. Our programs, from Philadelphia conversations to online presentations showcasing fieldwork in Chiapas, fostered dialogue among 274 attendees spanning 15 countries. Beyond events, we shared knowledge widely, with our newsletter reaching over 2,700 inboxes and key social posts engaging over 38,000 people.
Each of these numbers is a person. A connection made. A research barrier crossed. A tradition preserved.
As TSA looks ahead, this foundation enables our boldest steps. In 2026, we will bridge coasts and disciplines with hybrid Colloquia in Long Beach and Minneapolis, and bring our Textiles Close Up programs to new communities in Syracuse and Ithaca, creating more spaces for the exchange that fuels our field.
This work continues only with your partnership. Your year-end gift is an investment in the textile field, in its people, its conversations, and its future.
With gratitude,
Ashley Occhino
Executive Director, Textile Society of America
P.S. Thank you for being the reason TSA thrives. You make this vibrant community possible.
You must be logged in to post a comment.