Thus was the inspiration for the Bubble Connection; a two-day retreat attended by students and staff of Bloomfield and Centenary Colleges. The event was held on March 14-15, 2008 at the Frost Valley YMCA in Clarysville, NY. Approximately 40 students and staff spent the two days learning about their “bubbles,” how to break those bubbles, and learn about others from different backgrounds.
The students began the weekend with ice-breaker exercises designed to foster interaction between the two groups. The outdoor event was a low-ropes course which taught the students teamwork and trust. Amid giggles and laughter, the students walked a series of low ropes (no easy feat!) with the help of their teammates, trying very hard not to fall off.
Indoor sessions involved introspective and sharing exercises with the mixed group and discussions about leadership and promoting diversity including strategies of empowerment to promote tolerance and understanding.
The Bubble Connection was inspired by activist and motivational speaker Van Jones. Jones works on environmental, social, and cultural issues and promotes education and job training as an alternative to incarceration. The Bubble Connection allows people to examine their own “bubbles” or their thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs, and gently offers ways to correct any misconceptions about others.
Some of the comments offered by the participants of this event are: “Being here made me realize that this generation will change society,” “I knew racism exists today but did not realize it was so close to home,” “Judgments and labels have been there forever, but they can be changed and this a way to begin change,” and “Some people say you have to do big things, but this was a small thing and sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.”
By the end of the weekend, the two groups of students were enjoying their similarities more than trying to find their differences. Two homogenous groups became one large group swapping email addresses and YouTube sites. The staff agreed that the weekend was a resounding success and look forward to planning a similar weekend for next spring.
Photos of the activities for March 14, 2008 can be found here!
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