Building Bridges in the U.S.
November 10, 2006
US Home Group meets for first Follow-Up Program Retreat!
In mid-November, US homegroup participants and LITs from the BBfP 2006 summer intensive came together for their first weekend retreat in Colorado. The group spent the weekend in a beautiful lodge in Allenspark a few hours from Denver. Participants, LITs, and staff enjoyed each other’s company and addressed the theme of “Service & My Community” during their time together.
Friday evening was focused around sharing the experiences participants had upon returning home after the summer intensive, and addressing their fears and expectations for the weekend and the yearlong follow-up program.
Saturday was a full and exciting day. Participants and LITs addressed the stereotypes present in their communities in the morning with a workshop about people from different communities within the US. Each participant was given a label identifying a particular group or community – i.e. an immigrant, a person of wealth and power, a homeless individual, etc. Participants were asked to wear this label on their foreheads, so that they could see each other’s label, but not their own. They then had to act out how they thought, believed, or had seen others treat people with such labels in an actual gathering. The workshop took the group through a discussion about diversity in the US and methods of achieving more integrated and inclusive communities.
After a hike in the beautiful mountains, a short snow fight, and some rock climbing, participants and LITs transitioned into an exercise that introduced them to the differences in each other’s communities. The exercise led to a great discussion about what needs to be changed in their communities and how service can be used to introduce these changes.
The evening was spent going over community-wide projects and organizing and brainstorming for their various individual projects. There were many wonderful ideas put forth by the group and there was a lot of excitement and readiness to return home and start the process of making a difference.
Getting the chance to spend a weekend together inspired each one of the participants to begin working on being a part of the change. The group was charged and excited about their individual projects and everyone is looking forward to meeting again in a few months for the second follow-up program retreat.
Building Bridges in the U.S. Archive
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November 16, 2007 |
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The BBfP 2007-2008 U.S. Follow-Up Program Kicks off in the Badlands, South Dakota |
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March 29, 2007 |
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Speaking out, Making Change in Denver |
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November 10, 2006 |
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US Home Group meets for first Follow-Up Program Retreat! |
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April 2, 2006 |
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CONFRONTING PRIVILEGE IN DENVER |
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January 15, 2006 |
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COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND SERVICE IN CHICAGO |
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January 14, 2006 |
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BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE AND FACE TO FACE/FAITH TO FAITH TAKE PART IN FIRST DENVER SERVICE DAY |
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November 15, 2005 |
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U.S. HOME GROUP MEETS IN SAN FRANCISCO |
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October 16, 2004 |
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BAY AREA GIRLS GATHERING SUMMER MEMORIES FOR SCRAPBOOK |
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October 4, 2004 |
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BAY AREA PARTICIPANTS KICK OFF FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM |
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July 21, 2004 |
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BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE CELEBRATES 11 YEARS OF PROGRAMMING |
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