Breaking Bread to Build Bridges: making connections in Staunton

Rebecca Johnson points to her father in a photograph at a Building Bridges event at Booker T. Washington Community Center in Staunton.

STAUNTON – Building Bridges for the Greater Good is excited to begin preparations for their annual Breaking Bread gathering: a time when the community comes together to engage in conversations that matter, finding sustenance in our relationship and in the food we share, the organization announced in an email.

The upcoming event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, from 1-3 p.m. at Booker T. Washington Community Center at 1114 W. Johnson St. in Staunton.

BBGG asks that if you can, please bring a pie or homemade bread to share.

You can also get involved in making it happen. Come to the next BBGG open meeting on Monday, April 1, from 6-7 p.m. at Augusta Street Methodist Church or sign-up to donate or volunteer (click here to sign-up).

Breaking Bread to Build Bridges: Making connections to meet community needs

The theme of this year’s event is “Breaking Bread to Build Bridges: Making connections to meet community needs.” By partnering with many other community organizations and initiative groups, BBGG hopes to create opportunities for people to learn how to achieve their own life goals and also how the community can work together to meet everyone’s needs.

The gathering will be set up as five focus spaces and everyone can choose what they want to prioritize, with opportunities to shift during the afternoon:

Housing – BBGG will be joined by Staunton Housing Redevelopment Authority and Habitat for Humanity, who will share how you can work to meet your own housing needs, as well as a wider conversation on how we can work towards ensuring everyone has housing security.

Homelessness – Focusing especially on the needs of veterans who are unsheltered or facing housing insecurity, with our local Veterans Affairs office providing insight and resources.

Minority business development/entrepreneurs – One of the enduring lessons from BBGG “What We Lost” series is how Staunton’s once thriving African American business community was decimated in the 1960s by “urban renewal” and local policymakers. BBGG is part of a new initiative group working on how best to support newly emerging and aspiring Black businesses in the community. There will be conversations around the resources and support and making the connections every business venture needs.

Uniontown’s future – Last year’s gathering was all about Uniontown. “We are pleased to say that there has been a lot of movement since then — both with action by both the City of Staunton and the Virginia legislature,” said BBGG. Read more, here.

Learn about these developments and the ongoing challenges to meet the goal of “a thriving and resilient Uniontown that embodies its historic sense of community, provides families with a healthy place to call home and honors its proud past.”

Voter registration – BBGG wants to ensure everyone who is eligible votes and is able to make informed choices. You will be able to register during this event — and to get involved in planning a voter registration drive in advance of elections later this year. (BBGG is planning to organize a Candidates Forum in the fall.)

To keep up to date with developments, visit BBGG’s Facebook page.

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