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Event: Bridges to Belonging: Migration, Community, & Connection
Date: Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Location: Virtual via ZOOM

View the recording here.

About the Event:

Migration, community, and belonging are among the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time. Around the world, people are being displaced by war, climate crisis, and economic instability. In the U.S., rising social tensions often deepen feelings of division.

This free virtual event from Peace Through Action USA explored how belonging is not just something we hope for, but a practice we can cultivate together. Through powerful guest stories, case studies, and interactive discussion, participants examined barriers to belonging and gained strategies to build inclusive, welcoming communities where everyone feels recognized and safe.

What You Will Gain Participants will explore:

• Participants in this event:

  • Learned about the barriers to belonging in communities today.

  • Explored five practical strategies for cultivating inclusion and connection.

  • Heard real-world stories of immigrant and refugee experiences.

  • Reflected on their own role in building “living bridges” of belonging.

  • Shared ideas and insights in breakout discussions and collaborative problem-solving.

  • Left with concrete actions to strengthen belonging in their own contexts.

Guest Speakers

Sheryl Rajbhandari — Founder & Executive Director, Heartfelt Tidbits. Since 2008, Sheryl has helped refugees and immigrants in Cincinnati find housing, work, education, and community.

Amy Dudgeon — Founder & Executive Director, The New Neighbor Project. Amy’s organization supports immigrant neighbors through donation-based ESL and citizenship classes, application assistance, and scholarships.

Facilitator: Chris Walonski, Director of Programs, Peace Through Action USA.

Partners

• Broadview Church – Serving Calvert County since 2003, committed to spiritual growth and meeting community needs.

• The Calvert Peace Project – Increasing understanding, collaboration, and community in Calvert County through civic and social engagement with a focus on peace.

Resources

Read:

• “Constructive Program: Its Meaning and Place” – Gandhi’s writings on community action.

• The Belonging Barometer (Othering & Belonging Institute, UC Berkeley) – Research on belonging in U.S. communities.

Watch:

• The Welcome Dinner Project – Columbus, OH – Pairing immigrant and non-immigrant families to share meals.

• Stories of Home Mural Project – Boise, ID – Refugee youth and artists telling stories of identity and migration.

• Welcome Ambassadors – Durham, NC – Student-led peer support for immigrant classmates.

• Fix-It Clinic – Minneapolis, MN – Community repair days bringing together newcomers and long-term residents

• Case studies: The Welcome Dinner (Columbus, OH), Stories of Home (Boise, ID), Welcome Ambassadors (Durham, NC), Fix-It Day (Minneapolis, MN).

Listen:

• Immigrantly Podcast – Conversations on immigrant identity and belonging.

• The Nonviolence Radio Podcast (Metta Center for Nonviolence) – Real-world applications of peace and nonviolence.

• Stories of refugee and immigrant leaders on community radio and podcasts.

Discover:

• Heartfelt Tidbits – Cincinnati-based nonprofit serving immigrant and refugee families.

• The New Neighbor Project – Providing pathways to citizenship and support for immigrant neighbors.

• Resources from Heartfelt Tidbits and The New Neighbor Project for supporting immigrants in your community.

How to View

The event was recorded and will be available on our YouTube channel. Don’t miss this important conversation—watch the recording and share it with your network.