Phoenix Rising

Such a memorable year! A deadly pandemic, riots in the streets, shootings by police, a contested election, and a harsh economic climate, all added up to make this a memorable year everyone would rather forget.

Adopting the adage that there is opportunity in adversity, when the pandemic hit in March, we chose not to be ruled by fear; instead, we decided to launch two major projects that may influence who we are and what we do for decades, if not generations to come.

Built 130-years ago as a state of the art elementary school, Highland was an abandoned and dilapidated shell when we bought it 42-years ago to convert it into a luxury office building. Fifteen years ago we started City Club on the south side of the basement, but the building always had the feel and function of an office building until four years ago when we renovated the top floor into a Shared Workspace. 

To further accomplish this transition, early in the year we identified ten projects to complete the transformation of Highland from an office into a private social and business club. We are proud to announce that this year we have completed six of these projects, are more than halfway into completing two more, and hope to start and finish the final two, including the expansion of the Kitchen, next year.

Also, after ten years of research, soul searching, and discussion, in May we finally launched Highland Institute for the Advancement of Humanity. Thanks to great help from members like Doug Gardner, Steve Smith, Maria Brink, and many past and present members, the launch of the Institute in the midst of a pandemic was a huge success, once again proving there is opportunity in adversity; that indeed the Phoenix does rise from its ashes, however daunting that may be.

Please take a few minutes to read Highland Institute’s 420-word Manifesto below; you and your City Club membership made the launch of the Institute possible. Finally, as you go about setting goals for next year, please consider getting more involved in the Institute’s evolution in the years and decades ahead. 

— Sina