Becoming Neighbors Community Conversations
At a time of deep division and social isolation in our nation, we offer a pathway forward to help restore parts of our humanity and connection that have been lost along the way.
We recognize that each of us has a human story that both compliments and transcends our political, cultural, and religious differences. Our Becoming Neighbors Community Conversations help diverse people come to know and care about one another through stories and meaningful conversations - build bridges of understanding, trust, and cooperation across lines of difference - for the common good of all.
We've found that any lasting change in the world must first be grounded in meaningful relationships in our own backyards.....especially with people who don't look or think or express themselves the same way. After all, it isn't the proximity of our homes, but the depth of our relationships that makes us neighbors. The more we know know each other, the more we care, and the more we care, the more likely we are to serve, love, and protect each other.
Becoming Neighbors Community Conversations
We hold monthly Becoming Neighbors community conversations alongside our partners across the nation that bring people of different cultures, faiths, ages, sexual orientations, and political affiliations together for meaningful, facilitated conversations around issues that matter - discovering shared values and putting those values into action to better the local community.
These community conversations follow a series of simple steps and guidelines we developed, and include a diverse panel of speakers, food, music, small group conversations, and community service that help strangers we don't know (or even fear) become neighbors we embrace.
In addition to holding regular community conversations in our homebase of the Fox Valley of northern Illinois, we regularly provide consultation, resources, and connections to groups interested in creating Becoming Neighbors community conversations in their own community! Becoming Neighbors community conversations are currently taking place in Illinois, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
Click here for a great video from a recent Becoming Neighbors community conversation focused on building bridges with adults with disabilities with our partners at Sturdy Shelter Brewing in Batavia, Illinois.
Please contact Executive Director, David Fraccaro to learn more and join our Becoming Neighbors network!
Our Becoming Neighbors work was recently featured in an episode of Area Code: Batavia podcast. Be sure to listen here.
- Claudia Kabanyana, Becoming Neighbors Program Facilitator