From all around the country the Building Hospitable Community Project gathered ideas that work -- stories, action narratives, projects that illustrate partnerships addressing community tension. Often, we noted, the convening role of the religious community was a significant factor. We found that collaboration is key! Creativity is boundless when people of compassion -- new immigrants and those whose families came earlier -- work together to transform their communities from places of hostility to settings of mutual hospitality. Attitudinal change and systemic change work in tandem when people of good will seek a common good.
These ideas are replicable -- they've worked in other communities and can be modified to work in yours. There are more -- this is just a sample listing. We've only given a glimpse of each -- and a contact person or organization if you wish to get more information. Please send us the ideas that work in your community. Thank you!
Ecumenical Networks - NCCC
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
FAX 212-870-2690.
Berkeley, CA -- Voicing Values Project: Dedicated to deepening the discussion about difficult and sometimes contentious issues of value and purpose in society, this project convenes representatives of education, government, economy/business, organized religion and the family--five major social institutions--to discuss specific issues in small groups led by a trained facilitator. Contact: Barry Stenger, Center for Ethics and Social Policy, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709; Phone: 510-649-2560, FAX: 510-649-2565.
Billings, MT -- Not in Our Town! The city mobilized, then stood together when anti-semitic and racist hate groups started to cause trouble. Churches, the newspaper, community organizations, led the challenge. A PBS special tells the story. Contact: Margaret MacDonald, Executive Director, Montana Association of Churches, 100 24th Street W., Suite G, Billings, MT 59102-4751; Phone 406-656-9779; FAX: 406-652-1398. (see resource sheet for ordering Not in our Town video).
Bridgeport, CT - Community-in-Contact - Community discussion groups on race relations are based on the Study Circles approach to meet the need for a public forum to promote community out of diversity. Contact: Rev. Ernest Jones, Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, 955 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604-4318. Phone: 203-334-1121; FAX 203-367-8113.
Las Cruces, NM -- Colonias Development Council is a community organizing project using a model, Building Communities from the Inside Out, developed by Northwestern University to harness skills and talents of the community members to respond to community needs. Meetings in the colonias encourage dialogue leading to analysis and action. Contact: Antonio Luhan, Diocese of Las Cruces, 1280 Med Park Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88005-3239. Phone: 505-523-7577.
Long Island, NY -- Multi-Faith Festival - Planned and funded jointly by persons from different faith communities on Long Island, a drew over a thousand people for a day-long event celebrating religious pluralism and building community. The Long Island Council of Churches and Auburn Theological Seminary gave leadership to the event and Hofstra University donated the use of the facilities. Contact: Rev. Robert Pierce, Long Island Council of Churches, 1644 Denton Green, Hempstead, NY 11550-3149; Phone: 516-565-0290.
Milwaukee, WI -- Beyond Racism, Building Community - On going effort to bridge the gaps between people of different races and cultures. Reaches widely into the community. Contact: Charlotte Holloman, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, 1442 North Farwell, Suite 200, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: 414-276-9050; FAX 414-276-8442.
Orange, CA -- 'St. Joseph's Pub': The Sisters of St. Joseph Justice Center opened their house as a story-telling space, providing a setting in the community for getting to know new immigrant neighbors. Their delegate to the National Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph had brought the idea back from a keynote speech by Parker Palmer inviting religious women to create a public forum by reintroducing the idea of pubs as places of food and conversation. Using the notion of pot-luck supper and warm welcome, the idea worked so well that four Sisters of St. Joseph Houses have opened "pubs" in Orange County. Contact: Sr.Carmen Sarati, CSJ, Sisters of St. Joseph Justice Center - 480 South Batavia Street; Orange, CA 92668. Phone: 714-633-8121.
Quad Cities, IA/IL - Media Round Table: Invitation by community leaders working with immigrant and other communities of diversity to leaders in media (tv/radio/newspapers) to come together, establish relationships, discuss diversity issues, explore fair and faithful coverage. Contact: Nora Dvorak, Refugee Resettlement Program, Diocese of Davenport, Davenport, IA 52804. Phone: 319-324-7913; FAX 319-324-5811.
Ridgewood, NJ -- Cultural "Alladay" initiated by kids. A public school district rich in immigrants (49 languages are spoken in Ridgewood) organized a problem-solving project with Middle School students who invented the "Cultural Alladay" as a working holiday to celebrate diversity. The Alladay is now celebrated annually and the students have engaged the whole community in the project, held on the Friday before Columbus Day. Contact: Dr. Louise Lewis, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Ridgewood Public Schools, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ 07451-3890 Phone: 201-670-2662; FAX 201-670-2669.
San Diego, CA -- La Posada Sin Fronteras (La Posada without Borders) - The American Friends Service Committee in collaboration with the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Roman Catholic Diocese and the San Diego Ecumenical Council hold a Posada on Christmas Eve on both sides of the Mexico/US border, retelling the search of Joseph and Mary for shelter. Contact: Roberto Martinez, AFSC, 1129 "G" Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Phone: 619-233-4114; FAX: 619-233-6247.
Toledo, OH -- VOICE Panels (Valuing Others Individual Cultural Experiences) are organized within public and parochial schools to give voice to multicultural speakers who share their personal experiences of discrimination or prejudices related to race, ethnic background or religion. VOICE Panels promote relationships among youth from diverse backgrounds. Contact: Ms. Nancy Atkins, Toledo Metropolitan Mission, 444 Floyd Street, Toledo, OH 43620-1700; 419-242-7401, FAX:419-242-7404.
Seattle, WA -- Speakers Bureau - This project offers people in the community personal contact
with immigrants in an effort to reduce the fears that come from not knowing one another. Speakers
go in teams: refugees and advocates. Refugees tell their own stories, advocates welcome questions
and conversation. Training is offered for those wishing to participate in the Speakers Bureau.
Contact: Melody Salguero at the Washington Refugee Resettlement Program, 464 12th Avenue, Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98122; Phone: 206-322-1038; FAX: 206-322-0680.
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