Gloria Steinem’s New York City brownstone became a sanctuary for activists, writers, and dreamers for decades. At the heart of her legendary gatherings was a simple yet radical idea: everyone sits in a circle, with no head of the table and no hierarchy. Steinem called these meetings “Talking Circles,” a practice she wrote about in her 2015 memoir “My Life on the Road” and credited in part to Indigenous traditions.
The conversations that unfolded in that living room were not just social—they were catalytic. Plans for Ms. Magazine and the nonprofit Women’s Media Center began to take shape there. Organizations like Third Wave, Equality Now, and Direct Impact Africa often used Steinem’s space to chart their next moves, marking “turning points” in their work, according to Gloria’s Foundation.
Those who attended describe Steinem as both open and deeply present. Ann Shoket, CEO of TheLi.st, a community for women and nonbinary leaders, recalled in a LinkedIn post this week that Steinem “made us all dream bigger.” Shoket, who mingled in Steinem’s living room twice at recent events, added, “She was also deeply real.”
Soraya Chemaly, author of “All We Want is Everything” and a board member of the Women’s Media Center, was a guest in that living room nearly a dozen times. “Gloria was very interested in intergenerational connection,” Chemaly told CNBC. “She listened to young women who sat in her living room, never talking down to them, always validating. She built community and solidarity in a low-key and comfortable space.”
Steinem’s home will continue to be a gathering site for individuals and organizations, according to Gloria’s Foundation. But you don’t need her address to borrow the spirit of what happened there.
Five ways to bring Steinem’s approach to your own circle
Journalist and author Allison Gilbert, who has spent years researching how people form meaningful bonds at work, at home, and in third spaces, distilled Steinem’s practice into five actionable steps.
Gilbert’s advice draws on a modern loneliness paradox: Nearly three-quarters of adults spend time with people they care about only twice a month or less, and about two-thirds say they never join clubs or organizations. Yet Steinem’s living room proved that intentional, low-stakes gathering can still spark profound connection.
First, she suggests starting small—invite just a few people you genuinely want to connect with. The power of Steinem’s circles was in their intimacy, not their size.
Second, set the tone of equality from the start. No head of the table, no designated leader. Let everyone have an equal voice, just as Steinem did for decades.
Third, listen more than you talk. Steinem was known for validating young women’s ideas without talking down to them, a model Gilbert says builds trust and encourages honesty.
Fourth, make it a regular rhythm. Steinem hosted these circles for years, and it was the consistency that allowed relationships to deepen and plans to form.
Finally, let the space evolve. Steinem’s living room wasn’t a formal meeting venue—it was a comfortable, low-key environment where ideas could wander and grow. Gilbert encourages hosts to keep their gatherings flexible and open to whatever emerges.
These principles are especially relevant now, when face-to-face trust building feels scarce. But as Steinem proved, a simple circle—whether in a brownstone or your own living room—can be a starting point for changing lives, and even the world.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/04/how-to-gather-and-connect-like-gloria-steinem-says-expert.html
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