“Connect as Friends” is a simple yet powerful interracial social opportunity that lets us first meet as strangers but soon connect as friends.  Its purpose is to help create and nurture real, meaningful and human connections and friendships between members of the Alliance that can serve to strengthen the fabric of our community.  This opportunity was originally inspired and named by Hixson Middle School student, Caitlyn Boyle, in her winning essay at the 2014 Martin Luther King Celebration.

1. “Connect as Friends”: One-on-One.  Two interracial adults of the same gender will be paired together.  They will exchange contact information and arrange a convenient time and place to meet for coffee or a meal at a local spot to get to know each other better and begin to connect as friends.  While our hope is that such meetings and conversations will continue, that is totally your choice.
2. “Connect as Friends”: Group Potluck Dinners.  Guests will be invited for an interracial potluck dinner for 6-8 people in a designated host’s home.  The host will schedule and coordinate the affair.  Spouses, friends and relatives are welcome.  Everyone will be responsible for bringing something for the dinner.

Please complete, then copy and paste AID’s “Connect as Friends” Interest Form, below, into an email to “Connect as Friends” Coordinator Dave Buck at [email protected], using “Connect as Friends” in the Subject line.

INTEREST FORM:

I am interested in (please put an “x” next to as many as you like): 

_____One-on-One: meeting up one-on-one for coffee/meal at a local spot.

_____Group Potluck Dinners: meeting up in a group of 6-8 in a host’s home.

_____Hosting a group potluck dinner in your home.

Name                  ________________________________

Race/ethnicity   ________________________________

Gender               ________________________________

Age 18 or over  _____ Yes  _____ No

Mailing address________________________________

Phone number ________________________________

Email address   ________________________________

Please return this form no later than NOON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14.  “Connect as Friends” will be officially launched during the 2016 Martin Luther King Celebration on Sunday, January 17, at the Steger 6th Grade Center. 

Thank you very much for your interest and participation in helping us all “Connect as Friends.”

Your Social Opportunities Committee