Friday, December 14, 2018

THRIVE: What our community needs to thrive. BTV and Jericho, Vermont



A Celebration of Art and Community

Burlington City & Lake Semester, in collaboration with Burlington muralist Mary Lacy (originally from Jericho), invited community members to enjoy the premiere of an original work of outdoor projection art at the Old North End Community Center in Burlington on December 12th. 

The work celebrates, with striking and memorable visual images from each student, what our community needs to thrive


a main theme that BCL students have been learning about and grappling with this fall. There was a presentation from students and Mary Lacy about the projection art and BCL experience. 

This project is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Burlington City Arts Community Fund.

The exhibit was shown outside against the building wall as well as inside against the wall and upon the ceiling, as well as on poster boards at tables. 

Mary Lacy explained that she facilitated the students' artwork; the students themselves took responsibility not only for the choice of art genre - the projection, but also the logistics of advertising, soliciting food from local businesses, obtaining the appropriate electronics, and other technical aspects of the premiere. 

Each of the participating students spoke to the audience about their role and answered questions about the class experience. 

* See my open letter to Jericho VT residents near the bottom of this post.(Regarding what Jericho needs to thrive).









































































Open letter to Jericho VT residents: 


Given likely changes in weather patterns, growing challenges for all types of life, political upheaval, and our locally aging population, how will we thrive in Jericho?

What construct can we create for resiliency and sustainability so that we can continue to be happy, secure, and comfortable in our town?

“How can we design new ways of living that are more nourishing, fulfilling, ecologically sustainable, and socially just?” (From Transition US. Org.)

What defines community for you in Jericho? What do you do that helps you feel you are a part of this social fabric – lend a hand to a neighbor, volunteer for a town office or non-profit, carpool, share vegetables from your garden….?

What more would you like to see and experience in Jericho that you feel would help us become more resilient?

I think most of us want the community to be more than just the place where we live with others, more than just our mailing address.  We want a feeling of fellowship, friendship, caring, and sharing neighbors, perhaps at least a subset of nearby folks that have the same or similar interests, attitudes, and goals for family life. I at least want a feeling of fellowship with others nearby.

However, I want more. I want (a few) individual relationships. I want folks outside my family and close friends who live nearby, who I can relate to, who I care about, who cares about me; whom I trust, and who trusts me. This includes people different from me, with interests, attitudes, and goals that provide diversity and even occasionally challenge my own. I wish for a circle of people with a broad range of perspectives.


From this trust and diversity, I strive for collaboration, common support, in-depth conversation; opportunity for sharing, awareness of each other when one needs help as well as when one is celebrating.

I want to be accepted, if not recognized for who I am. I am not an extrovert; however, I do not want to feel lonely and I do want to feel I belong to and contribute to neighbors and others in Jericho. I want to look up to and learn from and collaborate with my peers in town. I want my identity to be linked to Jericho.

I want to be hopeful about the role we each can take to be a better neighbor to nature, both native plants and wildlife – and find ways to contribute toward their success, which in the end will facilitate our own survival.

The feeling of being socially connected in Jericho, I think, is enhanced through opportunities offered by the library and library events (like holiday tree lighting), Jericho Country Store (great takeout food and sponsored events), Jericho Settlers Farm (Farm to Table), Emilie Gruppe Gallery exhibits, Jericho natural areas – the green, pond, Mobbs Farm trails…. These all offer serendipitous encounters to meet others, share experiences, and on occasion perhaps begin a more personal relationship that blossoms. Also, there are opportunities to connect with the Jericho natural ecosystems, landscape, plants, and wildlife.

For me, community means we take care of each other, we trust each other, and we interact with each other. With this foundation, we work together in small groups toward common goals. We laugh, dream, try, and do good individually and with others in Jericho towards a caring, resilient, and trusting community of people.  

What does “community” mean to you? How can we foster its growth, develop the meaning of community further?

I will always believe "Caring plus Contribution equals Community: genuine relationships, trust, place of belonging".
~Bernie

References & Resources:


  • Tea With Strangers (Show up for tea time, have a real conversation-talk 2 hrs. about anything, that's it no strings attached.)








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