In a recent LinkedIn post, Jeanne C M. shares a deeply personal and poignant reflection on the events of September 11, 2001, and the unexpected sense of community that emerged amidst the tragedy. Writing about the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Jeanne C M. recounts how a simple note on a slip of yellow paper became a pivotal moment in her life and in the experience of a conference she was hosting.
Jeanne C M. details the morning of 9/11, explaining the context of the conference held by Corporate University Xchange (corpu.com) at a New York City hotel. She describes how her head of research, Brenda Velez (now Brenda Roberts), witnessed the first plane strike the North Tower and quickly conveyed the news via a handwritten note.
“Brenda quickly wrote me a note. This was before texting, before news alerts appeared instantly on our phones.”
As Jeanne C M. explains, the immediacy of the news, delivered through analog means in a pre-digital age, underscored the shock of the event. Gary Williams, an attendee, also witnessed the impact on television and immediately recognized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is a terrorist attack.” Jeanne C M. herself was preparing to introduce a speaker when she received the note.
“I read it and knew I had to tell everyone what was happening, even though none of us yet understood the magnitude of it. I shared the news and asked the room to observe a moment of silence.”
The post highlights the shift in the conference’s focus as the reality of the unfolding events became apparent. The connection to live television coverage brought the horror directly into the conference room, leading to the immediate suspension of the day’s planned sessions.
The Emergence of Community in Crisis
What followed, according to Jeanne C M., was a profound experience of human connection. With travel disrupted and many attendees unable to return home, the group at the hotel found themselves forming an impromptu community.
“Our Corpu.com employees and more than 100 attendees became an intact community. With travel suspended and many people unable to return home until the weekend, we stayed together. We watched. We waited. We comforted one another. In the face of unimaginable fear and uncertainty, we did what people so often do in the darkest moments: we took care of each other.”
Jeanne C M. emphasizes that in the face of immense fear and uncertainty, the group came together to support one another. This shared experience, born out of tragedy, forged a unique bond among those present.
Lasting Memories and a Call to Reconnect
Twenty-five years later, Jeanne C M. retains vivid memories of that day – the yellow slip of paper, the silence, the on-screen horror, and the solidarity experienced within the conference room. The post also serves as a solemn remembrance of 35 former colleagues from Alger who were lost on September 11th.
As a concluding thought, Jeanne C M. extends an invitation to those who were present at the conference that day, urging them to reconnect and honor the shared experience.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Jeanne C M. on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on September 12, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →