COMMUNITY CIRCLES MONTH
On ordinary days, we work, eat, sleep, play and spend time with our friends and neighbors through our various social interests, such as sports, recreation, arts, entertainment and worship. Within these groups, we don't always notice when we are building relationships of trust and crossing the divide of age, race, and other potential barriers. But, if an accident, natural disaster, or tragedy of any kind occurs, we find ourselves responding to the situation in the spur of the moment. And if we already have developed trust and collaborated with others in a non-stressful situation, it will be far easier to work together on something critical during a crises.
When we observe the world around us, we see what happens when there is no trust between people with differing faiths, viewpoints and cultures. So what can we do in our own communities to strengthen ourselves? In addition to our public service contributions, we can use the opportunities afforded to us by the social groups whose interests we share. We can play and worship with others in ways that build trust and cooperation. We can use our ordinary days to recognize the little things that bind us together. We can give our appreciation and encouragement to the social groups that provide us opportunities to build good relationships with others.
Community Circles Month, October 2007
During Community Circles Month, October 2007, we recognized the social groups in our community that build trust and cooperation year round in their circles of influence in the areas of arts, entertainment, sports, recreation and worship. This gives the individuals of our community an opportunity to find out about the social groups in their own neighborhoods that they may not have been aware of. People of Contra Costa County and Oakland can find new events to participate in that stimulate the development of relationships with others who share common interests. See or Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Community Circles Wall of Life
The Community Circles Wall of Life is a concept created by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Building Bridges in 1996. The goal is for student’s art and the ways that they see their community to become part of an every expanding Community Wall of Life as displays go up in public buildings, banks, senior center cafeterias, K-12 schools and colleges in Central Contra Costa County and Oakland. Each display is set up by separate organizations and the view of the community comes from their own perspective. This year's display begins in October 2007 and extends into April 2008. The theme for the artwork is Our Community Circles.
A Call for Stories and Artwork of Trust and Hope
Building Bridges is calling for the stories from communities that are making a difference. Send photos, artwork and stories about how your social group, neighborhood, church, school, sports group, arts community has built trust and hope between people of diverse backgrounds during the month of October 2007. Send to:
- Building Bridges
- 1630 No. Main Street #307
- Walnut Creek, CA 94596
- or email to bb@buildingbridges.bbnonprofits.org
Representative stories will be featured on this website throughout the coming year.
About Building Bridges
Since 1995, Building Bridges has developed many projects that have helped the underprivlidged, brought music and arts to school children, recognized outstanding contributions to the community by local non-profits, promoted Breast Cancer Awareness and organized violence prevention activities. Building Bridges is the organizer of this October’s Community Circles Month.