Trustbuilding News November 2023
Sharing some things we've been doing.
No step forward is too small. It’s no big thing, but you make big things out of little things. Great acts are made up of small deeds.
We are building a better community through all the moments created to bring us together to learn from each other, to listen to one another, and to see each other as fellow human beings working together on common goals. Developing, cultivating, and growing our cultural competence is a small change we can each make that delivers huge win-win outcomes in our community when we put it into practice. Do something small today that changes the world for the better.
On September 10, 2023, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church hosted a community forum on unity and positive change with the charge, “Let it begin in me. . .”
The service of peace and justice included a conversation centering on Racial Trustbuilding, Affordable Housing, Poverty, and Community Policing.
Mayor Edmondson, who was the speaker for the service that day, was joined by LaGrange Police Chief Garrett Fiveash, Chalton Askew, and Anne Gentry of the Racial Trustbuilding Initiative, Circles of Troup County Executive Director Sherri Brown and the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Coalition.
Kay Durand, a longtime member of St. Mark’s and this community, said Edmondson’s election as the first African-American mayor of LaGrange inspired her to suggest the event. Kay felt it was time for LaGrange to take steps forward and deal with these particular issues positively. “I felt like this was a real opportunity to cross that race barrier. We shouldn’t have those barriers within our churches at all,” Durand said. “I wanted to do something to bring the mayor into our church, which is predominantly white, for people to get to know him as a person.” (LaGrange Daily News)
Each group was given a few minutes to tell the audience about their organization. At the end, there was a question and answer session. The event was well attended, and we were glad to be asked to participate.
“Where Do We Go From Here?: A Journey Across America Bringing the Power of Shared Experience to the United States.”
Beyond Conflict brought Roelf Meyer and Mohammed Bhabba to LaGrange after visiting Atlanta.
Roelf Meyer and Mohammed Bhabba are two individuals who played instrumental roles in ending apartheid and building a multiracial democracy in South Africa.
Roelf served previously as Minister of Defense and was being groomed to be the next leader of the National Party. In addition to leading the negotiations, he served as Minister of Constitutional Affairs and served in the government of Nelson Mandela.
Mohammed was a leading ANC activist, a key negotiating team member, and later served as Minister of Local Government and Member of Parliament.
They shared how they worked together to accomplish the monumental task of transcending their deep mistrust and fear to avert a civil war and lead their country through a peaceful transition. At the beginning of this process, Roelf and Mohammed were staunch enemies, which makes their friendship today even the more amazing .
On their tour across America, they visited some large and small cities. Lagrange was recommended to Beyond Conflict, so they reached out, and we said yes, come on. The evening was an excellent history lesson and an opportunity to share our work.
Beyond Conflict leveraging their global network of leaders, activists, and other seasoned practitioners, catalyzed the field of transitional justice, facilitated the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa, and charted a course toward peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, Central America, Cuba, and other divided societies. Their methodology of shared experience is grounded in two core principles: that people can learn from each other and that people can change.
Beyond Conflict has partnered with cognitive and behavioral scientists to create the Beyond Conflict Innovation Lab for Neuroscience and Social Conflict. The Innovation Lab brings a new framework at the intersection of behavioral sciences and real-world experience. Their goal is to apply brain science to design and promote new tools that reduce Conflict, increase tolerance, and facilitate positive social change in the United States and abroad.
Talk the Walk
With our fast-paced schedules, we don’t get much time to relax and relate to one another in non-pressured environments.
Our Saturday morning walk on the Thread was just that. It gave us a chance to share our backgrounds, talk about our families, and listen to other people to learn their stories.
A small group gathered to satisfy their curiosity, walk with a stranger, and converse.
By the end of the walk, each person knew one another better and expressed interest in doing it again. Will you join us next time?
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE BEYOND THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
(Excerpts from an article by Susan Parmelee)
Each year, when the holiday season rolls around, we are reminded of the heartwarming memories associated with these festive times.
Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and being thankful for what you have. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude in different ways improves your overall mental health while also aiding your interpersonal relationships.
Not only does gratitude help you emotionally, but there’s growing research that explores how it also helps your physical health. Gratitude can also be expressed by setting aside time to contemplate about five to ten things you are grateful for.
The more you practice gratitude, the more natural it will come to you. Research has shown that it takes about eight weeks of exercising gratitude for the brain to rewire into a more positive mindset and increased empathy.
Sufficient research has shown that gratitude is a powerful tool for your mental health. The importance of exercising gratitude is the reflection that induces a positive mindset that stays with you. The holiday season comes with an overwhelming number of emotions, but practicing gratitude has proven to help you no matter what time of the year.
GA Gives Giving Tuesday is just around the corner. GivingTuesday is a global giving movement with local impact. Save the date… #GAgives on #GivingTuesday is coming on November 28th! You can make a difference during this day of giving by making a donation to Racial Trustbuilding. We can’t wait to bring our community together to learn from each other, build relationships, and forge a better tomorrow by building equitable outcomes for everyone. GIVE HERE
