27 October 2002
Designed by
David
* solidarity * ecology * spirit *
Circle of Mentors
The following letter was sent to a number of people we agreed could offer us guidance and support as the Community House developed. We invited them to become part of our Circle of Mentors, but there are many ways in which others can help us out!
July 8, 2002
Dear (Mentor),
Over the past few months, you may have been hearing about the founding
of a Community House in Victoria that will be based on values such as:
Planning is well underway. We've established a house-searching group, a self-selection process for potential house members, a website (http://www.socialchangenow.ca/house), and have had many conversations about the philosophy and values of the house and all the amazing things we could do.
- Living in intentional community with ourselves, the neighbourhood and wider city.
- Living in solidarity with the earth and all creation by our consumer choices and lifestyle.
- Living in solidarity with poor and oppressed people through outreach, education, volunteering, and exploring simple living.
- Living in radical & welcoming christian-based community with connection to local and global faith groups, bringing ecumenism to life, exploring our own spiritual journeys, and starting a possible partnership with churches.
We believe that you have acquired skills and experience in such things as living in intentional community, pressing for environmental and/or social justice, liberation theology, etc. We hope that you are itching to share your stories and wisdom with us! If you are, we would like to invite you to be part of the "Circle of Mentors" for our Community House Project.
We imagine that the Circle of Mentors would function more like a resource of knowledge and skills, and like a Quaker "clearness committee" that asks questions to help house members consider things carefully. It would not be like a board that would oversee funding, direct, or set goals for the Community House. The Circle of Mentors would:
Blessings,
- Meet twice a year with the community house members to witness us form and evaluate how we've met our goals, keeping us accountable to the goals we've set for ourselves.
- Share skills. (For example: leading a workshop on consensus building, giving gardening advice, facilitating a study on liberation theology, act as mediators if all parties in a conflict wish mediation, etc.)
- Get invited over to dinner by us good cooks!
The Community House
