Building Bridges in the U.S.
March 29, 2007
Speaking out, Making Change in Denver
The Building Bridges for Peace (BBfP) 2006-2007 US follow-up program was wrapped up with a fantastic final retreat that took place in Denver on the weekend of March 29th. Programming on Thursday night started of with a discussion of expectations and concerns. The participants put together a list of goals that they hoped to reach by the end of the weekend and were relieved to see several common concerns among them. The evening workshop consisted of a number of activities that centered on group work and integrated many of the communication skills participants had learned during the summer intensive program.
Friday morning started of with a ‘Role Playing’ workshop. Participants were asked to share with the group incidents from throughout the past year when they had difficult conversations and/or disagreements with classmates, friends, and family members. In pairs, they acted out these incidents and tried to deal with them again using the communication skills they learned during the summer.
After lunch, the group headed out to do a service project at the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program (RAAP). The participants were introduced to the work done at the center and received a powerful insight into this work through a project called ‘Hearts’. After a few hours of gardening, planting flowers, and organizing a dusty basement, the group was ready for a fun night out. The rest of Friday was wrapped up with a delicious dinner at the Mercury Café and an inspiring poetry night at Café Nuba, entitled ‘The Power of She’.
To follow up with the activities of the night before, Saturday morning started off with a poetry workshop that helped participants reach out to their inner poet. After the poetry workshop, the group attended and observed a ‘one-man peace vigil’. At the peace vigil, participants had an opportunity to learn about what motivated this man to carry out his individual peace vigils every Saturday morning at the same intersection for the past three years. This brought up a great discussion among the groups in terms of what they, as individuals, can do to make a difference.
The afternoon’s program consisted of a ‘Problem Solving’ workshop, in which participants were asked to identify the issues they see as problems in American society today. The list went on to include about 50 problems ranging from discrimination and war to drug abuse and teen pregnancy. Assuming they were the president of the US, the participants were asked to choose one problem they thought was most serious and come up with an agenda to deal with it. After sharing their ideas and agendas, the group moved onto the second part of the workshops. For this portion of the activity, the participants “presidential power” was taken away, and as the wonderful young women they actually are, they were asked to choose another problem to address. The discussion underlined the vast issues faced by Americans today, and at the same time, brought to light the role and power that young people have in helping to address these issues.
The day was wrapped with a discussion about worries the participants had concerning the conclusion of the follow-up program. To help the young women, staff members who were past program participants shared how they had dealt with these worries as they were going through the program themselves.
After a final closing circle on Sunday morning the participants said goodbye for the last time realizing that, as one participant said, “this is merely the beginning”.
Building Bridges in the U.S. Archive
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September 30, 2008 |
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BBfP 2008 Summer Intensive Reflection |
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November 16, 2007 |
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The BBfP 2007-2008 U.S. Follow-Up Program Kicks off in the Badlands, South Dakota |
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March 29, 2007 |
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Speaking out, Making Change in Denver |
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November 10, 2006 |
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US Home Group meets for first Follow-Up Program Retreat! |
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April 2, 2006 |
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CONFRONTING PRIVILEGE IN DENVER |
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January 15, 2006 |
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COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND SERVICE IN CHICAGO |
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January 14, 2006 |
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BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE AND FACE TO FACE/FAITH TO FAITH TAKE PART IN FIRST DENVER SERVICE DAY |
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November 15, 2005 |
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U.S. HOME GROUP MEETS IN SAN FRANCISCO |
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October 16, 2004 |
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BAY AREA GIRLS GATHERING SUMMER MEMORIES FOR SCRAPBOOK |
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October 4, 2004 |
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BAY AREA PARTICIPANTS KICK OFF FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM |
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July 21, 2004 |
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BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PEACE CELEBRATES 11 YEARS OF PROGRAMMING |
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