This is Our Community - Farm & Wilderness

Written by Rebecca Geary | March 23, 2017

Emotions in our nation are raw and on edge. Neighbors, families, and friends avoid talking about headline news topics for fear that opposing views may lead to anger, conflict and worse: disengagement, separation, and isolation. We’ve become, in some ways, a community of “don’t ask it, don’t say it.” This suppression of dialogue impacts our friendships, our families, and most importantly, our children.

The USA (albeit stolen/colonized/usurped) has come to represent the ideals of democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity, and equality. How we have arrived at our present state of confusion, conflict, fear and disrespect is less important than our moral and civic responsibility to stand up for our values (whatever they may be), respect dissenting voices, engage in discussions, hear what is said, and appreciate different perspectives. In knowing, in understanding, we have a better chance at finding common ground and a path forward, together.

As a Quaker foundation, our roots in peace, equity and integrity are tenacious, resilient, and thriving. From our trustees to our staff, we recognize the importance and value in providing a space in the summer, especially this summer, where young people can discover and develop their voices as they explore their beliefs as independent, thinking humans. In our digital age, youth are bombarded by rhetoric and images that evoke emotional responses and intellectual stimulation.

Our opportunity at Farm & Wilderness is to provide a judgement-free environment with space for campers to discuss what’s on their minds, to ask complicated and nuanced questions (of which we don’t expect staff or peers to have the answers), and to promote open, thoughtful approaches to resolving conflicts that may surface from differing views and beliefs.

To genuinely accept the diversity of lived experiences and thought, we ourselves must learn and teach others to listen for understanding, not to convince or change people; to love and honor each other for our strengths, challenges and opposing perspectives. This is hard work. As leaders in the F&W organization, we will guide our staff and model an approach to these thoughtful conversations that is inclusive and equitable. It is our mission, our values: this is our community.

In peace,

Rebecca Geary

Executive Director

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