Eric Bronner’s grandfather created Dr. Bronner’s Soap with all its products featuring a positive, affirming message. It created a surprising connection at a Bridge Alliance conference between Bonner and Silva.
Pedro Silva & Eric Bonner accidental meeting.
It is not often that coincidences like what occurred at Bridge Alliance’s Social Cohesion Conference in Reinbeck, New York. Two strangers working to bring people together had a connection.
It was Pedro’s time to speak. For some reason, he asked Eric to go ahead of him. As Eric spoke about his grandfather, the creator of Bronner’s Soap, the story sounded more and more familiar.
When it was Pedro’s turn to speak, he pointed out that at his lowest point, he went into a store and bought the soap and read the positive affirmative message that is on every soap. He said it was the message that he needed at the time.
Pedro had written a letter to the soap company, and he received a response from Eric’s grandfather with an unsolicited check thanking him and providing moral support. It is clear the soap company was not just about nice words but engaging its clients.
Pedro said that he told his wife before they knew they had a connection that he felt drawn to Eric. This story was touching in so many ways. And, of course, it reinforces six degrees of separation,