Community | Washington, D.C.

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Washington, D.C. on December 7, 2018 to discuss Community.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• Our group examined communities that have made us feel valued, allowed us to find ourselves, and pushed us out of our comfort zones. Personal examples were shared of communities we have found in our families, religions, political affiliations, educational institutions, and career paths.
• One question that sparked a lot of conversation was, “Can we be part of a family/community that we don’t always agree with?” A number of stories were told describing how it may be difficult in the face of criticism, but community can be based on an emotional connection that keeps us close.
• Trust and communication were two attributes that we associated with being part of communities that we valued and in turn, valued us. If trust or communication break down, our identity in that community can be lost or isolated.
• We concluded that it’s a privilege to be a member of the communities we are apart of. This led us to reflect on individuals we know who may be outsiders and what we can do to be aware and inclusive in other ways.