Warm Greetings from the Culture Builds Community program!

This is my first month as the new Education and Outreach Manager at Cityfolk! It is my distinct honor to follow the inspired work of Kelsa Rieger Robinson, after working closely with her through programs at East End Community Services over the last two years. Her inclusive leadership has brought us to this 6th year of CBC programs at Cityfolk, establishing a vibrant energy and a rich groundwork for growing forward!

Dancing to drum circle rhythms in the CBC Family Funway
at the 2011 Cityfolk Festival. -- Photo by Mama Nozipo

My goal is for all of us to lead this program with collaboration, building on the amazing assets of our communities! This is an invitational model. We are invited, by our common mission, and so we invite. This evolution fuels our collective capacity for multicultural vibrancy, a defining attribute of Dayton, Ohio, thanks to the creative stewardship of so many.

The unique visions of each community and the goals therein are of special interest.

Son de Madera entertaining a crowd at a community celebration
at Kiser Middle School in 2009. -- Photo by Andy Snow

My task for the remaining months of the year is to meet with community members, to listen, to laugh, to play, and to plan. I want to meet folks at community gatherings, celebrate with neighbors and learn more about the dreams and goals to be realized. I will organize, facilitate, network, invite partnerships, develop tools for us to use together, supporting efforts in any way I can. Together, we will live into the plans for Sole Rhythms while growing more aware of our community needs and our collective potential!

Rise Up and Dance was such a great success last year. The beauty was profound, the learning expansive. Sole Rhythms will be the next chapter and the beginning of rich new relationships! Look for regular communications from me, including more blog entries and lots of photos.