Tag: Belonging

Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life
Third spaces are public, informal gathering spots — like cafes, parks, or community centers — where people can relax, socialize, and build connections outside of home and work. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, these spaces play a vital role in fostering community and countering loneliness.

“Third spaces” refer to social environments that are separate from the two primary places where people spend most of their time: home (the first space) and work (the second space). These third spaces are informal, public gathering spots where people can socialize, relax, and build a sense of community.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first introduced the concept in his book The Great Good Place. He argued that third spaces are crucial for fostering social cohesion, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. They serve as “neutral grounds” where people can engage in casual conversations and form social connections that they might not in other settings. Places like main streets, libraries, cafes, pubs, and community centers are essential to a functional society and can provide avenues for grassroots activism, community involvement, charity and volunteer work, and social support.

One of the most important features of “third spaces” is that they involve interacting with people outside of our typical social circle of family, friends, and coworkers. They introduce the possibility of new connections and new relationships. Other important qualities include easy accessibility, low cost, and an inviting atmosphere that encourages mingling and conversation.

As modern life has shifted more towards digital interaction, the role of physical third spaces has become a topic of renewed interest among psychologists and social scientists, especially in discussions about loneliness and community fragmentation. People are spending less time in third spaces than ever before; and with remote work becoming more common, many people don’t have much of a life outside of home anymore.

This general tendency has led to an increase in atomization, where individuals feel less and less connected to their local communities and society at large. This has far reaching consequences on health and well-being, as well as social trust, cooperation, and group cohesion.

Third spaces play an integral role when it comes to happiness and well-being on both an individual and social level. Let’s mention a few common examples and then explore more on what makes these spaces so important to a healthy social life.

Common examples of third spaces include:
- Main streets and public squares
- Cafes and coffee shops
- Public libraries
- Parks, nature preserves, beaches
- Bars or pubs
- Community centers
- Bookstores
- Churches and religious organizations
- Local food markets
- Music venues or dance clubs
- Local sports leagues (bowling, basketball, baseball, etc.)
- Shopping malls
- Co-working spaces
Can you think of any other examples? What are some neutral places where various people can go to meet new people?

Ray Oldenburg argues that the increase of suburbanization and a “car-centric” society has decreased the use of third spaces and is one major cause behind our more atomized and individualistic world. Many adults living in suburbs have a long commute and a busy work schedule, so they rarely have time to spend outside of home or work. They live and sleep in their suburban homes, but they aren’t involved in their local communities in any meaningful way.

Modern living creates a fundamental disconnect between home, work, and community, which can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness. Third spaces can be a social glue that ties these different aspects of our lives together into a meaningful whole.

As someone who grew up in Levittown, New York – one of the first mass-produced suburbs – I can relate to the feelings of atomization and not having many third spaces to hang out with friends during my childhood. The most frequent spots were typically shopping malls, bowling alleys, or parking lots, but there weren’t many other “public square”-type places where everyone could go on a weekend night. This made it difficult to build social connections or a sense of community outside of school.

In Robert Putnam’s classic book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community, he documents the downfall of community feeling and social cohesion since the 1960s. Key factors behind this decline include changes in mobility and sprawl, family structure and time schedules, as well as technology and mass media. The rise of home entertainment including TVs, internet, and video games has made people less motivated to go to physical third spaces for leisure, socializing, or relaxation.

There are many factors that have led to the decline in community and the use of third spaces. It’s tempting to want to blame only one thing, but the problems we face in today’s world are complicated and multifaceted. There’s no quick or easy fix for improving the use of third spaces, but we can be more aware of the role they play in our daily lives.

Are Buses and Trains Third Spaces?

Public transportation such as buses and trains share some qualities with “third spaces,” such as being neutral ground that anyone in the community can access, a shared experience of commuting together, and the possibility of social connection with locals and strangers. However, these places are typically not seen as “third spaces” because their primary function is transportation and not social connection. The average person on commutes tends to withdraw and mind their own business, so these spaces aren’t very conducive to new conversation or forming new friendships (although it’s definitely possible).

Building Social Capital and Weak Ties

When you frequent any third space (such as a cafe, bar, church, or library), you naturally start to see familiar faces and build light social connections there.

This is what sociologists refer to as social capital, which is just an economic-centric term for relationships that we value, trust, and provide social support.

Third spaces help form casual relationships (or “weak ties”) that can lead to huge benefits. One common example is learning about a new job opportunity or a possible romantic interest through an acquaintance or friend of a friend.

Social capital can manifest itself in many small and hidden ways too.

When I lived in Brooklyn, I would go to the same bodega every morning for my coffee and breakfast sandwich. There were a couple times I was in a rush and forgot my wallet, but since the store owner knew me well and recognized me, he trusted me enough to let me pay next time. That may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s something that can only be accomplished with a minimal level of trust or social capital. If I were a completely random stranger I wouldn’t get that benefit.

Through third spaces, you begin to run into the same people, build a sense of familiarity and comfort, and start connecting with them on a level beyond random stranger, even just the act of seeing a familiar face and saying “Hi” can give a nice boost to your day (learn the power of “10 second” relationships).

Find a Healthy Dose of Third Spaces

No matter how introverted or extraverted you are, everyone needs a healthy dose of social interaction. Third spaces provide opportunities to meet new people, connect with a broader community, and expand our social circle. Often just finding one third space where you feel comfortable and connect with like-minded people can make a big difference in the quality of your social life. Find a third space that works best for you and make it a part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine.

Enter your email to stay updated on new articles in self improvement:
Steven Handel

Source link
September 19, 2024
Survivor Weekend: College Freshmen Experiencing a Culture of Belonging

PHOENIX, August 22, 2024 (Newswire.com)
–
It’s no mystery that college students want to have fun and make friends fast. That’s why Hope Church Movement and the Campus Changer Network are teaming up for the 14th year to host Survivor Weekend. It’s a three-day adventure weekend with over 2,000 college students coming from 24 campuses across the Southwest to participate. The students compete in tribes (or teams) based on their college, major or residence hall. Everyone travels to Northern Arizona for a weekend of music, camping and competition.

The event is not religious in nature and welcomes students of all backgrounds and beliefs. Pastor Brian and Wendy Smith are the founders of Survivor Weekend and Hope Church Movement. They said it was their individual college experiences that inspired them to start this event.

“From my own time as a freshman and from working with students for the last 35 years, I’ve seen that when freshmen step foot onto their college campus for the first time, they start to feel anxious to connect with others and desperate to belong. That’s because belonging is a common and fundamental need,” Pastor Brian Smith said.

Universities are even recognizing that this desperation for connection is a battle students face when they get to campus. Research from the Barna Group found that only one-third of young adults feel deeply cared for by those around them and almost one in four say they encounter feelings of loneliness and isolation. In response, many universities have started creating positions called the Dean of Belonging.

When college students have a sense of belonging, it can lead to a reduction in depression, loneliness, hopelessness and social anxiety. Everyone is searching for closeness, acceptance, and a sense of community. That’s why this weekend is open for anyone to come, no matter what they believe.

“When I was a freshman, I thought living for the weekend party scene is just what you do in college. I would’ve loved to have something like Survivor Weekend to be part of instead,” Wendy Smith said. “We want students to have a place where they can meet lifelong friends that have their back.”

Pastor Brian Smith talks more about the challenges college freshmen face when they first arrive on campus in his book Winning the Battle to Belong, which was released last summer.

“We want to break the stigma that in college, the only way to have fun is when drugs and alcohol are involved,” Pastor Brian Smith said. “We hope this trip gives students an unforgettable weekend where they experience competition and community like they’ve never encountered before.”

Every year, many students say how Survivor Weekend helped them build lifelong friendships.

“Being a part of a tribe made me feel like I finally had a community to be a part of and a second family to support me,” one student said. “Survivor Weekend impacted my college experience forever.”

Another student said, “I’ve already found my people. I know for a fact that the people I’ve met, especially the people who go to my school, I am going to have these friends throughout the year … Knowing that they have my back already is such a great way to start the year.”

Survivor Weekend continues to grow with students from more campuses participating. This year will be the first time a team comes from Texas to compete, with students from UT Austin and Texas State joining.

If you would like to know more about Survivor Weekend, visit survivorwknd.com.

About Hope Church Movement

Hope Church Movement is a collegiate-focused church planting movement in five cities reaching 24 college campuses in Arizona, Nevada and Texas. Hope Church Movement started in 2004 reaching students in Tempe, Arizona. The church has since expanded to also reach students at universities and community colleges in Flagstaff, Tucson, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Austin, Texas. Hope’s premier event is Survivor Weekend, where students join tribes or teams to experience a weekend of music, camping and competition. Students from all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

Source: Hope Church Movement

Related Media

Source link

August 22, 2024
Love On The Spectrum: Thoughts and Feelings

“Love On The Spectrum” is a reality television show centered on how people with autism view, seek, and find love. It’s a fun, inspiring, and heartwarming series that we can all draw many lessons from.

Related Articles

Enter your email to stay updated on new content on self improvement:

Steven Handel

Source link

February 12, 2024
4 Japanese Concepts That Will Improve Your Well-Being

Embark on a journey to well-being with these four profound Japanese concepts: Ikigai for purpose, Moai for community, Hara Hachi Bu for mindful eating, and Kintsugi for resilience. Discover insights to a healthier and happier life in the modern world by embracing the ancient wisdom of Japanese culture.

Culture is a powerful force that influences the type of person we become. In the pursuit of well-being, different cultures can often teach us different lessons on what it means to live a good life.

First, what is culture? The American anthropologist Edward T. Hall created the “Cultural Iceberg” framework to help us analyze the many factors that determine what a culture is. The theory illustrates that only 10% of culture is what we see (language, diet, music, fashion), while 90% of culture is hidden from us (beliefs, values, norms, and expectations).

Here’s what the “Cultural Iceberg” looks like:

Generally we see the culture we grew up in as the default mode of being. This includes how people dress, what people eat, and what music they listen to, but also deeper aspects of life such as beliefs, values, morality, and how people approach life from a broader perspective.

Culture, tradition, and social norms shape our map of reality, the choices we make, and how we navigate our world. If you’re raised in a society that only values materialistic goals like money, fame, or popularity, you’re naturally going to live a life in accordance with those values, especially if they go unquestioned.

When we explore new cultures through traveling, reading, or meeting new people, we learn that there are many different ways we can approach life and the way we were raised isn’t necessarily the only way to live.

One simplified but general way we can categorize different types of culture is Western vs. Eastern ways of thinking. Western cultures tend to be more individualistic, rational, and materialistic, while Eastern cultures tend to be more collectivist, holistic, and spiritual.

Keep in mind, these are broad categorizations. Every country and culture is different. This also isn’t a judgment of “right” or “wrong” ways of thinking, but rather observing different personality types on a cultural scale.

My experience from a Western perspective is that learning about various aspects of Eastern culture and philosophy (such as Buddhism, Taoism, or Confucianism) gave me a taste for different ways to look at the world and different perspectives on life that I otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to.

One popular country to look at is Japan which has a rich history, deep cultural roots, and long-held traditions that have been passed down over multiple generations. In this article, we’re going to cover four powerful Japanese concepts that provide universal lessons on how to live a healthier and happier life. Each concept reveals core values and beliefs that shape the way many Japanese people live.

These powerful ideas include: Ikigai (“a reason for being”), Moai (“meeting for a common purpose”), Hara Hachi Bu (“belly 80% full”), and Kintsugi (“golden repair”). Now let’s dive deeper into each one!

Ikigai

a reason for being

The Japanese concept of “Ikigai” is about finding a purpose in life. It directly translates to “a reason for being,” and it’s often described as the intersection between what you love, what you are good at, and what the world needs.

Ikigai is a combination between intrinsic motivation (an activity you enjoy doing) and extrinsic rewards (an activity that creates value in the world and improves people’s lives). Psychology research has shown that ikigai is associated with elevated feelings of dedication, accomplishment, meaning, and fulfillment.

This is in contrast to a lot of other cultures that just see work as a means to a paycheck or higher income, rather than reframing work as something that serves a higher purpose, both to yourself and society as a whole.

Ikigai has been shown to benefit both physical and mental health. It can reduce stress and anxiety, which contributes to longer lives and less risk of cardiovascular disease and other ailments. In addition, ikigai is associated with greater resilience in the face of negative events. One interesting study found that ikigai helped people better cope with stress after an earthquake or natural disaster.

Here’s a visual of what constitutes ikigai:

If you can find activities that meet all of these requirements, then you’ve found your ikigai.

Discovering your ikigai can take time and patience though. It involves careful introspection, understanding your strengths, passions, and talents, and finding ways to use those powers to fulfill the needs of the world.

Once you find your ikigai, it’s important to align your daily activities with it if you want to build a more purposeful and meaningful life.

Moai

meeting for a common purpose

Human connection is vital for our well-being, and the Japanese practice of “Moai” emphasizes the strength of communal bonds.

Moai refers to a group of people who come together for a shared purpose, providing emotional, social, and even financial support. Often a moai includes family, friends, and neighbors within a local community. They will see each other frequently, talk and catch up on each other’s lives, and organize group activities such as game nights, fitness groups, music performances, or dance parties.

This tight sense of community provides an important sense of belonging. It also comes with physical benefits like healthier lifestyles, exercise, social connection, and financial support if someone finds themselves in a tough situation.

In today’s world, many people are suffering from loneliness and depression. One major cause of this is hyper individualism and atomistic lifestyles that no longer promote community values. Many Americans report having zero close friends and only 38% say they have “5 friends or more.” This is in stark contrast to the moai way of life which can often include 10-12+ lifelong friends.

While there’s plenty of research showing the physical and mental benefits of social support, one of the most common examples of moai can be found in Okinawa, Japan, which has been identified as a “blue zone.”

Blue zones are places around the world that are associated with better health and longevity. Often there are high numbers of centenarians in them (or people who have lived over 100). The recent Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones by public health researcher Dan Buettner has a great episode dedicated to Okinawa that shows how the moais work there.

Many health professionals and experts are now claiming we are in a “loneliness epidemic,” with over 1 in 4 adults saying they feel socially isolated. This can have serious health consequences such as increased risk of anxiety, depression, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and overall shorter lifespans. The negative effects of loneliness have been compared to the effects of daily cigarette smoking.

As communities continue to decline and feelings of social alienation increase, the moai mentality is needed now more than ever.

Hara Hachi Bu

belly 80% full

In a culture often associated with healthy living and longevity, the Japanese concept of “Hara Hachi Bu” teaches us the art of mindful eating. Translated as “belly 80% full,” this practice encourages moderation in our meals.

Obesity is a growing problem around the entire world. Recent reports show that 39% of the global population in 2023 is obese or overweight, and this is a sharp increase from 23.9% in 2008. If this trend continues, researchers predict that over half of the global population will have obesity by 2035.

One factor in this rise in obesity is having abundant access to ultraprocessed foods, including the convenience of fast food and junk food. The modern diet is filled with supernormal foods that hijack our natural instincts for sugar, salts, and rich flavor, which is why many people end up over-eating during meals or late night binging.

The lesson of Hara Hachi Bu is more relevant now than ever. By reminding ourselves to only eat until we are 80% full, we encourage slower and more mindful eating. This lets you enjoy your meal more by paying attention to each bite and savoring it, rather than quickly moving from one bite to the next without fully appreciating it.

Many people eat unconsciously. Often it’s eating while watching TV/movies, checking their phones, scrolling social media, or socializing with friends. Their main focus is on one thing, while eating is just something happening in the background. These distractions can lead you to eat more than you otherwise would.

Slowing down your eating will lead to less consumption, better digestion, and improved body awareness of how you respond to certain foods, the best times of the day to eat (or not), and what it feels like to be “50% full” → “80% full” → “100% full” → “110% full.”

Adopting Hara Hachi Bu not only contributes to physical well-being by maintaining a healthy weight but also cultivates a mindful approach to eating that can lead to a stronger connection with the food we consume.

Kintsugi

golden repair

Derived from the Japanese words “kin” (golden) and “tsugi” (repair), Kintsugi is the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.

Here’s what it looks like:

Instead of hiding the cracks and flaws, the practice of kintsugi embraces the broken parts by highlighting them in gold. It celebrates its imperfections, while at the same time making them stronger and more beautiful.

Many find inspiration when applying this concept to their personal lives. It helps them to accept the challenges and obstacles they’ve had to face over the years – the physical, mental, and emotional battle scars – and see them as jumping points for growth and improvement.

No one’s life is perfect. We all suffer from weaknesses, flaws, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Our instinct is to hide them, ignore them, or deny them, but the paradox is that when we accept them is when we actually become stronger.

Kintsugi promotes resilience, growth, and grit. It shows that no matter how many times you get broken, you can always repair yourself in gold.

Conclusion

Each of these Japanese concepts – Ikigai, Moai, Hara Hachi Bu, and Kintsugi – offers a kernel of wisdom that we can all apply to our daily lives.

While these ideas are ancient, they are more relevant to modern living than ever before. Ikigai teaches us meaning and purpose, Moai teaches us social connection, Hara Hachi Bu teaches us mindful eating, and Kintsugi teaches us growth and resilience.

Which concept do you need to embrace the most right now?

Enter your email to stay updated on new articles in self improvement:

Steven Handel

Source link

December 11, 2023
Left homeless for holidays after fire tore through their block, South L.A. residents plead for answers

A small, unburned patch of the living room under a caved-in roof is all that remains of Omar Hernandez’s house after a massive fire tore through his block in South Los Angeles this week. Pink insulation and overhead lights dangle from above as he tiptoes around glass shards and gravel in slippers.

Hernandez, 53, and his wife and cousin are spending nights at a friend’s apartment in Glendale, but return every day to what is left of the house to salvage any belongings. The plan is to move everything out by Monday as they search for a new home and some answers.

Before dawn Tuesday, flames swept through an apartment building under construction in the 1500 block of East Vernon Avenue in the working-class neighborhood of Central-Alameda. Burning hot and fast through the exposed wood of the building’s framing, the fire spread quickly to neighboring homes, injuring three people and displacing 17, including Hernandez.

Seven buildings were damaged, including five that were left at least partially unsafe for occupancy. Entry is prohibited to one single-family home and two duplexes deemed completely uninhabitable, according to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

Kimberly Erendira, 12, is among those whose homes were gutted by the fire. Seven buildings were damaged or destroyed.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

As neighbors sift through the remnants of their belongings and seek new housing, many are pointing to the building under construction. City records show that it was to be a four-story affordable housing complex and that it had received expedited processing, clearances and approvals under Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 1.

“I blame the owner of the construction site,” Hernandez said. “They were trying to make this small plot of land into a four-story building next to small homes. Whoever said OK to this project needs to be held accountable.”

The site, steps from neighboring houses, had a problem with trespassers and no security guards on the property, multiple neighbors said.

Jerardo Diaz, 30, whose family lived in the home directly behind the site for 35 years, had even asked the construction crews to put up a bigger fence to give his family more privacy. In front of the charred remnants of his house there now hangs a red leaflet from the Department of Building and Safety reading: “Unsafe / Do not enter or occupy.”

The site’s contractor, Arrow Construction Co. in Artesia, did not respond to a request for comment.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it’s unclear when authorities will make a determination, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Margaret Stewart.

The cause of the massive fire this week in the Central-Alameda neighborhood is still under investigation, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, those whose homes were damaged or destroyed are struggling to figure out what to do next as families face the prospect of a holiday season spent rebuilding or looking for a new home.

“To explain to a child, when it’s Christmastime, [that] all their friends have toys but they’re not going to be able to this year — because right now their mom and dad need to get a roof over their head — is going to be their reality,” said Edward Winters, 63, of Lynwood, a former East Vernon Avenue resident who visited Wednesday morning to help neighbors after seeing a GoFundMe page that had been set up for Hernandez.

Hernandez said he had not received any help from his landlord or communication from the contractor of the construction site. He works as a dental assistant and moonlights as a DJ, and said he lost three cars and $15,000 worth of DJ equipment in the fire, among other belongings.

Hilda Flores, who has known Hernandez for 20 years and set up the GoFundMe page, is housing his family in her two-bedroom Glendale apartment and has urged them to stop returning to their destroyed home.

“I told them, ‘Leave the clothes.’ Those are all material things we can buy again,” said Flores, 41. “It’s not safe.”

Large planks of charred wood protrude into the walkway to the home, and pieces of insulation fall from the damaged ceiling despite a tarp they put up to cover it. Smoke and bits of charcoal still linger in the air.

“The main thing is we need a place to stay,” said Isabel Perez, 67, Hernandez’s wife. “A two-bedroom in this area. Anything, really.”

Neighbors have voiced concern over the mental well-being of the displaced families. Perez believes her husband has been suffering from depression since the fire, and says their dog, Mia, suffered burn injuries on her head and must be taken to the veterinarian.

“Omar is crying every hour and wakes up in the middle of the night crying from nightmares,” she said. “Mia keeps on whimpering and crying too. If something is seriously wrong with Mia, he might die.”

“At least we lived,” Perez murmured to herself, cradling Mia.

A spokesperson for City Councilmember Curren Price, who represents the area, acknowledged the anguish victims are feeling and said the American Red Cross has been assisting the city’s emergency response.

“They’re in limbo, living day to day,” Angelina Valencia said of the displaced residents, adding that at least one family has temporarily moved to Bakersfield to stay with relatives.

Price met with victims Tuesday afternoon, and his office has coordinated with local organizations to give the families clothing, toiletries, baby wipes, diapers and toys.

“Our own staff has donated baby clothing because most of the impacted families have young children, from a month old to a 12-year-old,” Valencia said.

Price’s office had connected with two families and was working to reach others.

Evacuated residents were left stunned Tuesday morning, many without shelter, after the East Vernon Avenue fire.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Red Cross has also provided residents cards with some funds, but “it’s only meant to help them in the short term with their immediate needs,” Valencia said. “Still, the families feel confused and desperate to get answers as they don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”

A disaster team, caseworkers and volunteers have been in touch with the displaced residents and will continue to offer assistance in the days to come, said Stephanie Grande, spokesperson for the Red Cross’ Los Angeles region. A temporary evacuation center closed at 1 p.m. the day the fire broke out.

“Casework assistance often entails connecting those affected by a disaster with existing social service programs in the community, helping them navigate complex paperwork, providing financial assistance to help meet immediate needs, and locating help from other agencies to assist with longer-term recovery needs,” Grande said.

With the shock of the fire behind them, Julise Jimemes, 56, said the neighborhood was coming together to lend what support it could to the displaced families.

When Jimemes woke up Tuesday morning, she was convinced her home would be taken by the fire. She gathered all of her important papers and belongings into her car and got ready to flee with her 87-year-old mother.

But after firefighters extinguished the blaze, Jimemes’ home remained unscathed.

Thankful to be among the fortunate ones, she couldn’t bear to see neighbors struggle on the block she has called home for 35 years. On Friday, she said, she planned to cook dinner for Hernandez’s family.

Ashley Ahn, Karen Garcia

Source link

December 2, 2023
Rams’ Demarcus Robinson robbed of jewelry at gunpoint

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was robbed of his luxury jewelry at gunpoint early Friday morning outside a Los Angeles hotel, according to media reports.

Robinson, 29, was leaving a hotel when two armed men approached and demanded his jewelry, law enforcement sources told TMZ.

The thieves reportedly made off with $100,000 worth of Robinson’s belongings — including a luxury watch.

The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond to an inquiry for additional information on the robbery.

Robinson spent his first six seasons with the Chiefs. He signed with the Rams this past off-season.

Rebecca Ellis

Source link

October 22, 2023
Survivor Weekend: Building a Culture of Belonging Empowers Student Success

PHOENIX, August 17, 2023 (Newswire.com)
–
Hope Church Movement and the Campus Changer Network are teaming up again to host Survivor Weekend. They anticipate 2,000 people at the 12th annual event over Labor Day Weekend. During this three-day trip, college students across 22 campuses in the Southwest form tribes, or teams based on their college, major or residence hall. Everyone travels to Northern Arizona for a weekend of music, camping, and competition.

The event is not religious in nature and welcomes students of all backgrounds and beliefs. Pastor Brian and Wendy Smith, founders of Survivor Weekend and Hope Church Movement, said it was their individual college experiences that inspired them to start this event in 2011.

“This didn’t exist when I was in college and I wish it had. Our team created Survivor Weekend so that students would have an opportunity to belong to a tribe that has their back,” Pastor Brian Smith said. “We want students to know that no matter what they believe, we respect them.”

Survivor Weekend is designed to help students build friendships within their tribes, which are based on college campuses or majors. Research shows when college students have a sense of belonging, it can lead to a reduction in depression, loneliness, hopelessness and social anxiety.

“People are writing about belonging more than ever, and across the country, universities are even creating new positions called the Dean of Belonging,” Pastor Brian Smith continued. “Everyone is seeing how much of a role a sense of belonging plays in a student’s success. Survivor Weekend creates an environment where that can happen.” Pastor Brian Smith talks more about the challenges college freshmen face when they first arrive on campus in his book, Winning the Battle to Belong, which was released earlier this summer.

Over the past 12 years, many students have said Survivor Weekend helped them build lifelong friendships.

“It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m having an amazing time, meeting so many people,” one college freshman said. “I’m feeling alive and not so alone in college anymore. It’s helping me a lot.”

In addition to the competition, students will hear an inspirational talk by Pastor Brian Smith. In previous years, he’s spoken about the importance of being “givers,” or people who care about others, in a world full of “takers,” people who focus on themselves and what they can get.

“I want to be more of a giver when I go back to ASU,” another college freshman said. “I realized from being here, that having a tribe, having friends, making those connections – that’s what is going to get me through college.”

If you would like to know more about Survivor Weekend, visit survivorwknd.com

About Hope Church Movement

Hope Church Movement is a collegiate-focused church planting movement in four cities reaching 22 college campuses in Arizona and Nevada. Hope Church Movement started in 2004 reaching students in Tempe, Arizona. The church has since expanded to reaching students at universities and community colleges in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Las Vegas, NV. Hope’s premier event is Survivor Weekend, where students join tribes (aka teams), compete in Northern Arizona and get inspired to live their college years for something bigger than themselves. Students from all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

###

Source: Hope Church Movement

Related Media

Source link

August 17, 2023
This Simple 30-Minute Belonging Exercise Could Boost Student Retention

Incoming college students who completed a 30-minute online exercise intended to bolster their sense of belonging were more likely to complete their first year of college while enrolled full time, according to a groundbreaking paper published in Science Thursday.

The study involved 26,911 students at 22 diverse four-year institutions across the country, and it has the potential to help students at a variety of colleges, at little cost. Students in identity groups — based on race or ethnicity and first-generation college status — that have historically struggled more to complete the first year of college at any given institution benefitted the most from the exercise.

The social-belonging intervention improved first-year retention among students in identity groups who reported feeling medium to high levels of belonging. For example, among students whose identity groups historically struggled to complete the first year of college and who also reported medium to high levels of belonging — the group that benefitted most from the activity — the exercise increased the proportion that completed their first year of college while enrolled full time from 57.2 percent to 59.3 percent.

But for the 15 percent of students whose identity groups experienced low levels of belonging at their institutions, the exercise did not improve retention rates, indicating that colleges will have to work harder to help those students.

Higher-education leaders have devoted more resources and attention to improving sense of belonging in recent years in an effort to help students from diverse backgrounds feel welcome on campus and to improve student success.

Researchers have long known that college students’ sense of belonging is critically linked to outcomes such as persistence, engagement, and mental health. But it can be difficult to measure the specific impact of efforts to improve belonging in a college setting. More recent research has focused on what colleges can do to improve sense of belonging on campus.

For the Science study, incoming first-year students in 2015 and 2016 spent up to half an hour in the summer before starting college completing an online module on belonging. They read about a survey of older students that showed many had experienced feeling homesick, having trouble finding a lab partner, or having difficulty interacting with professors, for example. The survey explained that those feelings are normal and can improve over time. Next, the students read curated stories from older students describing how such worries eventually got better. The incoming students were then asked to write about their reflections on the stories to help future students.

The study, which has 37 authors, was conducted by the College Transition Collaborative, a partnership of researchers and practitioners who study ways to support belonging, growth, and equity in college settings. It’s now known as the Equity Accelerator.

Gregory M. Walton, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the lead author of the study, said the exercise works by giving students a hopeful map for the transition to college. For students who belong to groups that have struggled historically, the roadmap can provide a buffer when they hit inevitable bumps in their college career. While some students can more easily shrug off such challenges, students from underrepresented minority groups and first-generation college students are more likely to interpret them as evidence that they do not belong in college, which can negatively affect motivation and persistence. The intervention appears to provide a boost to students who have reflected on other students experiencing similar difficulties and getting through them.

“The fact that it’s effective across these widely generalizable sample institutions is incredibly important,” Walton said. “Everybody should be doing this in some form.”

Previous studies have shown similar interventions to be effective, but on a smaller scale. One such study found that an hourlong activity focused on struggles to fit in during the transition to college increased the grades of Black students over the next three years and reduced the gap in grade point averages between Black and white students by 52 percent.

But by showing that the recent social-belonging intervention is effective at a variety of colleges across the country, including public and private colleges with admission rates ranging from 6 percent to 90 percent, the study demonstrates that such exercises are potentially scalable. The authors estimate that if the social-belonging activity were implemented at 749 four-year institutions across the United States that share key characteristics with the 22 colleges in the study, an additional 12,136 students, out of about one million new students, would complete their first year of college enrolled as full-time students.

The social-belonging exercise is available for free to four-year colleges in the United States and Canada here.

Adrienne Lu

Source link

May 4, 2023
Hope Church Movement’s 11th Annual Survivor Weekend Helps College Students Have Fun and Make Friends Fast

Press Release
–

updated: Aug 14, 2022

PHOENIX, August 13, 2022 (Newswire.com)
–
As another academic year approaches, Hope Church Movement is determined to help the incoming freshmen class successfully bridge the gap between high school and college. The Class of 2026 includes Gen Z, which is the generation born after 1997. Hope Church Movement is hosting its 11th annual Survivor Weekend over Labor Day Weekend, where college students across the Southwest form Tribes, or teams, and experience a weekend of music, camping, and competition.

Pastor Brian and Wendy Smith, Founders of Survivor Weekend and Hope Church Movement, said it was their individual college experiences that inspired them to start this event in 2011. While it is hosted by Hope Church Movement, the event is not religious in nature and welcomes students of all beliefs.

“Many of us forget about our freshman year and the insecurities we had,” said Pastor Brian Smith, who is also the founder of the Campus Changer Network. “Our hope is to give students an amazing experience and provide an opportunity to build authentic friendships. If they want to check out church later on, that’s fine, and if they don’t, that’s fine too! We just want them to know that Hope Church wants to see them be successful as new college students.”

One student, Shawn Romo, was impacted by Survivor Weekend his freshman year, and he was part of the planning committee before his sudden passing in 2016. His idea to award the winning Tribe a trophy was honored and named the Romo Cup in remembrance of him. His parents have presented the winning Tribe the Romo Cup the last four events.

“Survivor was this huge stepping stone that started him on his college journey,” said Jill Romo, Shawn’s mother. “I’m just really proud of the man he became.”

Young people are more likely than previous generations to battle mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and loneliness. In fact, one in four Gen Z is anxious, according to a 2020 report by the Barna Group. Research shows when college students have a sense of belonging, it can lead to a reduction in depression, loneliness, hopelessness and social anxiety.

Survivor Weekend is designed to help students build friendships within their Tribes, which are based on college campuses or majors. In addition to the competition, students hear an inspirational talk by Pastor Brian Smith on how to leave a legacy in college.

If you would like to know more about Survivor Weekend, visit survivorwknd.com

About Hope Church Movement

Hope Church Movement is a collegiate-focused church planting movement in four cities reaching 19 college campuses in Arizona and Nevada. Hope Church Movement started in 2004 reaching students in Tempe, Arizona. The church has since expanded to reaching students at universities and community colleges in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Las Vegas, NV. Hope’s premier event is Survivor Weekend, where students join Tribes (aka teams), compete in Northern Arizona and get inspired about their college legacy. While its founders are Pastor Brian and Wendy Smith, the event is not religious in nature and welcomes students of all beliefs.

Media Contact: Ricky Ruedaflores, Executive Pastor

ricky@hopechurchmovement.com

###

Source: Hope Church Movement

Source link

August 13, 2022