April 2020: Why Building Community Matters Now More Than Ever
A Message from Our Executive Director: Resources to Build Community while Physically Apart
Why Building Community Matters Now More Than Ever
We are in a pivotal moment in the history of our country. While the things that make us different continue to exist, and institutional structures continue to uphold inequities, people in communities around the world have found ways to show empathy and kindness, revealing the interconnected nature of our reality and the resilience of the human family. In these moments when we are being asked to isolate from one another, the opportunities to connect as members of a school community becomes even more imperative.
We urge you to use some of the limited time you have with your students and with your staff not only to share information and new learning, but to also carve out space to laugh, to be inspired, and to learn from one another. Now, more than ever, let us make this shared experience be one that allows our students to see the humanity in one another.
Our recent blog post, Building Community While Far Apart, shares with you a few easy and remote community builders that can be used by both students and faculty alike. Unlike an "ice breaker", community builders allow for a deeper sense of connection and make space for people to be more open and vulnerable, if they so wish. In our post, we also mention the importance of setting group norms prior to and creating space afterwards for a debrief during each activity. This will create a more normalized shared experience and allow connection on a deeper level. Just a few moments of building community can have long-term effects, particularly in light of the anxiety and fear that have permeated much of our national discourse.
If you try something that works, tag us on Twitter (@RootsConnectED), Instagram (@rootsconnected_inc), and FaceBook (@RootsConnectedInc), and use our hashtag #RCseethehumanity. We would love to see what you’re doing to build connection with your community!