The Art of Community

This week past week I attended the NYSAIS Heads of School Conference.  One of the featured speakers was author Charles Vogl who wrote a book called The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging.  In his talk he described his journey as a Peace Corps volunteer and then divinity graduate student at Yale.  He talked about how lonely he was at Yale and desperate to find friendship and fellowship with others.  In his book he writes:

"One thing I learned in my religious studies is that our experience of community has changed in a single generation. The number of people who say that they have no one to talk to about difficult subjects has tripled in the last few decades. Moreover, the size of the average person’s social network decreased by one-third in the same time. In fact, more people say that they don’t have a confidante than those who say that they do.  

Building community creates a venue for friendship, and friendship defeats loneliness. In deep community we can be vulnerable and still know that we belong. Those of us who are able to connect what may be a new lonely generation will have a profound effect on the health and well-being of those we serve no matter why we bring people together. I unwittingly started this journey because I was desperate to find a community for me."

I have been reflecting on Charles' talk and how we build community at Woodland Hill.  I see friendships that are forged from relationships between parents.  Whether it is the Lantern Walk or birthday parties, classroom events or committee meetings, we have the opportunity to connect and form friendships.  

I encourage you to reach out and continue these connections.  It takes more than showing up; we have to take the next steps to develop friendships!  Invite your fellow parent acquaintances to a family hike, play date, dinner, exercise class or party.  Start a book club.  Let me know if there are other ways we can foster friendships at WHMS.  


Comments

Popular Posts