Lessons from Starfire University: “Sharing Places,” 3rd in a series of 5

[QUICK REVIEW: Joseph Scheets, 26, graduated this week from an adult education opportunity for adults with special needs.  There is not enough space or time for me to tell you all the positive impact these past four years have had on his life.  Suffice it to say that as his dad, I am profoundly grateful to all involved.  Check out their site: http://www.starfirecouncil.org.

I’d like to spend some time with you thinking together about each of the five sections of the graduation program.  These are Experiencing Respect, Making Choices, Sharing Places, Growing in Relationships, and Making Contributions.  The printed program for Thursday evening’s Graduation had an explanatory phrase for each one, like this:]

SHARING PLACES

Sharing the ordinary places of community life

at the same time and in the same way as others

Four students exemplified this with their Capstone Projects.  Steven, a self-professed History Buff, did a presentation to a school in the role of a former US President, complete with clothes and posters from that era.  Chris raised money for an animal shelter by organizing a day for people and their pets which included them working together on a walking course in a public park.  Jovan had eased her grandmother’s and her aunt’s pain during their final weeks of life with massage, so she worked with a certified massage therapist to produce and host a health fair at a community center.  Tim wowed the crowd at a popular sports bar with his Sports Trivia Night, treating the packed house to a friendly competition with cash prizes.

Discovery began as they developed ideas with teams of professionals in their fields.  Elation ensued as the events came to life and were enjoyed by appreciative crowds.

The relationships between students and their “Public Allies,” seasoned professionals in the respective fields with whom they worked, were clearly ones of deep and shared respect.  Their brief speeches and videos showed this, and it was powerfully moving.

More than an award for trying, more than applause for presence, these Capstones represented the realization of dreams.  Doors were discovered, knocked on, opened and walked through.   These Projects serve as introductions to the next chapter in each student’s life.

How about you today?  Where do you go that someone else would enjoy being as well?   Where will you find yourself today that currently excludes people on an improper basis?

You could invite someone to join you.  You could start a reconsideration of policies and practices to be more inclusive.

And you probably already know what else you, specifically, could do to help someone else share an enjoyable space.

Do that, and I’ll see you back here soon.