What Does it Mean to Belong? Commún’s New Program Takes a Close Look
Belonging is about more than simply sharing space and time with others. Communities that are built on belonging must also do the hard work of authentically engaging with interpersonal challenges and differences so that people feel safe enough to show up as their full selves. Commún’s Belonging Program, housed within the broader Community Leadership program, is creating meaningful spaces to do this dynamic cross-cultural work with the vibrant Southwest Denver community. Funded by a two-year grant from the Denver Foundation in collaboration with the Greater Good Science Center, the program is designed to bridge divides between community members who may not typically have occasion to interact, or who have historically had challenges doing so due to differences in language, culture, race, age, or religion.
"There are so many nuances in our community members’ life experiences,” says Camila Restrepo, Commún’s Community Leadership Program Manager and leader of the Belonging initiative. “Even within a shared language, everyone is coming to Commún with a different background, life experience, or story. Honoring these differences while working to bridge them is what the program focuses on.”
The program is woven into Commún’s existing community meeting structure, held on the first Thursday of every month. Since February, these gatherings have emphasized interactive bridge-building practices, using music, movement, activities, and shared meals to bring people together on a deeper level. Community members have been invited to curate playlists of culturally significant music, setting a welcoming tone at the start of meetings. Food, another powerful connector, has played a central role: after Ramadan and Eid, Muslim community members brought traditional celebratory dishes, while other events have featured tamales and other Mexican cuisine. An "around the world in food" exchange is being planned in the coming months, where participants can bring dishes from their cultures to share.
Beyond music and food, the meetings also include structured conversations around belonging and inclusion. These discussions encourage participants to share times when they have felt unheard or disconnected at Commún or within their community. “These conversations are about listening, building trust, and centering community voice,” says Restrepo. “These are core values at Commún, so we take this process seriously.”
This initiative uses participatory community leadership to improve a sense of belonging within Commún, with participants engaged in committees actively working on three focus areas. The first is ensuring inclusivity during community meals by working with culturally sensitive caterers and standardizing equitable food serving practices. The second focuses on improving communication and cooperation during fast-paced food share events, where language barriers can heighten stress and cause confusion. Lastly, the organization is investing in better approaches to interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and harm repair within the community.
Three Key Focus Areas for Improvement at the Organizational Level
Working with culturally sensitive caterers
Improving communication and cooperation
Better approaches to interpersonal relationships
Restrepo shares that recent meetings have shown exciting signs of progress. “During our May community meeting, we broke into small groups, and we saw how confident and resilient our community members felt while talking about the challenges they face and the improvements they want to see. It was really encouraging.”
The program is supported internally by Restrepo, Commún co-founder Andrea Savage, Commún’s data specialist Leticia Grimaldo, and the Community Leadership organizing team. Efforts are underway to train a cohort of facilitators to expand small-group conversations. “Every month we grow in our ability to collaborate and hold this dynamic meeting space,” Restrepo says.
The monthly meeting is open to all, and community members are encouraged to participate by attending meetings or contributing resources on conflict resolution, restorative justice, and storytelling. Currently, about 25 participants attend regularly. As Restrepo notes, “Bridge building can happen between anybody, and this is an especially nice way for people local to Southwest Denver to participate and integrate themselves into the community.”
