Month of Service

In her manifesto for 21st century activism, Detroit-based organizer Grace Lee Boggs implored, “We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other.”

We invite you to bring your voice, passion, and expertise to the table as we invest in civic “love’s promise”—asking and answering questions ranging from “What sound wakes you at the start of your day?” to “What law would you change for the betterment of your community?” —to test if we can grow civic love.

A Living Room Conversation involves four to six people sitting down for a structured conversation about an agreed upon topic. Today's topic is Environment & Pollution.
We all want to live in a healthy environment, yet most of us make compromises to enjoy the benefits of modern society. And some forms of pollution we have more control over than others. How much influence should citizens have over the quality of the environment they live in? How much pollution is ok in our air, water and homes? When are environmental regulations helpful or harmful for individuals, businesses, and communities? Is keeping our environment cleaner good or bad for the economy? What is the government’s role in protecting the environment? Does the government look out for the interests of people or business? And when are those interests the same and when are they different?

In her manifesto for 21st century activism, Detroit-based organizer Grace Lee Boggs implored, “We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other.”

We invite you to bring your voice, passion, and expertise to the table as we invest in civic “love’s promise”—asking and answering questions ranging from “What sound wakes you at the start of your day?” to “What law would you change for the betterment of your community?” —to test if we can grow civic love.

A Living Room Conversation involves four to six people sitting down for a structured conversation about an agreed upon topic. Today's topic is Homelessness.
Lack of affordable housing and addiction support, changes in employment, unexpected medical emergencies, mental health, gender based violence, trauma, and stagnant wages all contribute to a growing homeless or unhoused population. Experts, direct service providers, and politicians try to find potential "solutions" with varying results. At times, solutions are rebuffed by the community with cries of "Not in our neighborhood" when shelters or affordable housing are proposed. What is our responsibility as members of a community to people of all ages without a stable place to live? This conversation is an invitation to go beyond stigma and stereotypes and consider the human lives affected by a lack of stable housing.

In her manifesto for 21st century activism, Detroit-based organizer Grace Lee Boggs implored, “We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other.”

We invite you to bring your voice, passion, and expertise to the table as we invest in civic “love’s promise”—asking and answering questions ranging from “What sound wakes you at the start of your day?” to “What law would you change for the betterment of your community?” —to test if we can grow civic love.

Join Fern Spruill, a local community leader, for a walking tour of the Princeton community that focuses on the history of the African American experience. During this tour, you will visit the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood while meeting and hearing the stories of a variety of community members and leaders whose families have lived in Princeton for generations. The tour will be at a leisurely pace, with moments for rest and conversation throughout.

For those who are unable to attend the tour but interested in learning more about the African American experience in Princeton, please explore the Albert E. Hinds Memorial Walking Tour: African American Life In Princeton on the Princeton Historical Society website.

Join Ida Malloy, a local community leader, for a walking tour of the Trenton community. Participants will visit locations and meet current residents, and will learn more about the role of African Americans in the city. This tour will examine some of the problems impoverished people face in Trenton. Participants will also learn about some new projects that are taking place, and how the arts are helping to shape a new narrative. The tour will be at a leisurely pace, with moments for rest and conversation throughout.

A Living Room Conversation involves four to six people sitting down for a structured conversation about an agreed upon topic. Today's topic is Civic Renewal.
Civic life encompasses the infinite ways that people may connect and contribute to their community and society: from voting in an election or organizing a neighborhood block-party, to standing up for a just cause or supporting arts in our parks. For some time, however, many facets of civic life have been in decline. This conversation is an opportunity to reimagine our civic life. We have a chance now to embrace our interdependence and to create just and productive communities. Success depends on our ability to create spaces that foster relationships of belonging, ensuring everyone has the opportunity and motivation to contribute to a thriving civic life.

In her manifesto for 21st century activism, Detroit-based organizer Grace Lee Boggs implored, “We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other.”

We invite you to bring your voice, passion, and expertise to the table as we invest in civic “love’s promise”—asking and answering questions ranging from “What sound wakes you at the start of your day?” to “What law would you change for the betterment of your community?” —to test if we can grow civic love.

There is nothing more thoughtful and personal than a handwritten note inside a beautiful handmade card. Put your paper crafting skills to work making greeting cards that will be shared with local community partner organizations to distribute in care packages. You can select to thank those that serve, put a smile on elder community members' faces, or write a note of inspiration for a child. (Hosted by Alex Tubridy and Sara Gruppo, Pace Center for Civic Engagement)

A Living Room Conversation involves four to six people sitting down for a structured conversation about an agreed upon topic. Today's topic is Hunger & Health.
We all want to ensure that everyone in our community has access to healthy, consistently available food options. The purpose of this Living Room Conversation about Hunger and Health is to share perspectives on food insecurity in our community, and create new relationships between people who do not currently share the same viewpoints. We also want to encourage new ideas, opportunities, and sustained participation in solutions that will benefit this community.

Join us as we volunteer with SHUPP to beautify a community garden space! The Princeton Free Garden Project, an initiative of Send Hunger Packing Princeton (SHUPP), allows Princeton residents to pick free produce grown on community soil. We will be reinforcing and tidying some of the raised garden beds. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot of the YMCA on Paul Robeson Place at 1pm.

There is nothing more thoughtful and personal than a handwritten note inside a beautiful handmade card. Put your paper crafting skills to work making greeting cards that will be shared with local community partner organizations to distribute in care packages. You can select to thank those that serve, put a smile on elder community members' faces, or write a note of inspiration for a child. (Hosted by Alex Tubridy and Sara Gruppo, Pace Center for Civic Engagement)

In her manifesto for 21st century activism, Detroit-based organizer Grace Lee Boggs implored, “We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other.”

We invite you to bring your voice, passion, and expertise to the table as we invest in civic “love’s promise”—asking and answering questions ranging from “What sound wakes you at the start of your day?” to “What law would you change for the betterment of your community?” —to test if we can grow civic love.

A Living Room Conversation involves four to six people sitting down for a structured conversation about an agreed upon topic. Today's topic is The Opportunity Gap.
Generally speaking, opportunity gap refers to inputs (the unequal or inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities), while achievement gap refers to outputs (the unequal or inequitable distribution of educational results and benefits). America prides itself on creating the opportunity for all citizens to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” We aspire to have a fair playing field and want every child to have the opportunity to succeed. There are strong indicators that we are not living up to our aspirations. Many communities and individuals are experiencing a tilted playing field. How can we respond?

Join Fern Spruill, a local community leader, for a walking tour of the Princeton community that focuses on the history of the African American experience. During this tour, you will visit the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood while meeting and hearing the stories of a variety of community members and leaders whose families have lived in Princeton for generations. The tour will be at a leisurely pace, with moments for rest and conversation throughout.

For those who are unable to attend the tour but interested in learning more about the African American experience in Princeton, please explore the Albert E. Hinds Memorial Walking Tour: African American Life In Princeton on the Princeton Historical Society website.