In September, I witnessed one of the coolest community art events I’ve ever seen: Oskaloosa’s lighted puppet parade, courtesy of William Penn University Theatre Director Brant Bollman; puppeteer and founder of Thingumajig Theatre, Andrew Kim; loads of William Penn students and faculty; the good folks from George Daily Community and FACE (Fine Art and Cultural Events) Mahaska County; and Oskaloosa High School art students.

Students worked for two weeks with Andrew and Brant making puppets, then staged a community-wide puppet parade on the town's recreation trail, complete with a drum line. It was something else.

If the past few years have taught us anything, it's how important gathering is, particularly gathering together to have a good time.

Science actually supports this. We know that when you actively listen to another person's story, you mimic their brainwaves, increasing your capacity for empathy. We know that shared laughter deepens feelings of connection and attachment. We know that goodwill is contagious, and that a kind exchange between two people creates a domino effect that impacts folks neither person ever meets.

That this kind of gathering occurred in Oskaloosa and at William Penn University shouldn’t be a surprise. Penn himself was a Quaker and pacifist, and founder of the Pennsylvania colony. The University was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1873.

The first graduate of the then Penn College in 1875 was a woman.

The first African American graduated from Penn in 1902 and, in 1947, the school hired the first African American professor in all of Iowa, a female scientist.

Shocked me, but apparently isn't all that shocking since two of the founding Quaker principles are equality for all and education.

The Mammoth Puppet Parade, in my humble opinion, exemplified both of the principles through the puppet workshop, the deliberate inclusion of participants from across the community, and the joy of the evening.