Building Social Cohesion
“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.” Martin Luther King Junior
For a second year, from July 29 – August 12, 2018, Legacy International welcomed 12 young people (ages 16-18) from the U.K. for a two-week cultural exchange program in the U.S. focused on combating divisiveness in communities and building social cohesion.
Starting in Raleigh, NC and ending in Philadelphia, PA (with stops in Durham, NC; Greensboro, NC; Bedford, VA; Lynchburg, VA; Charlottesville, VA; and Washington, DC.) the participants engaged in training, meetings, site visits, volunteer projects, and networking opportunities with individuals and organizations and programs focusing on ways to build social cohesion.
The twelve young change-makers were focused on a variety of issues including disability inclusion, minority inclusion, diversity in political representation, combating gender bias, preventing hate crimes and social division, engaging youth in social change, homelessness, LGBTQ inclusion, education reform, health, and the environment.
As part of the program, they develop leadership and dialogue skills through Legacy International’s LivingSidebySide® curriculum focusing on dialogue and mediation skills, intercultural communication, and conflict resolution methods.
We would like to thank all the guest speakers and organizations who shared their knowledge and time with the group. You have helped build bridges between programs here in the U.S. and across the pond in the U.K.
- Durham City Hall and Councilman Charlie Resse
- Duke University Center of Multicultural Affairs
- Hayti Center
- Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and Rev. Nancy Petty
- The Lighthouse Project
- North Carolina African Services Coalition
- Beloved Community Center and Frank McCain Jr.
- International Civil Right Center and Museum
- March for Our Lives and Parkland School Students
- Lynchburg Grows
- Westhaven Community Day
- Busboys and Poets and Andy Shallal
- So Others Might Eat
- The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Washington Parks and People
- American Friends Service Committee
- National Disability Rights Network
- Latin American Youth Center
- DC Mayors Office on Latino Affairs
- DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs
- DC Mayor’s Office on LGBTQ Affairs
- Serve DC and Antione Battle
- Poor People’s Campaign Maryland and Danielle Blocker
- Broad Street Ministry
- Philadelphia Student Union
- Anti-Defamation League (No Place for Hate Campaign)
- National Constitution Center
The Community Building and Social Cohesion Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy in London and administered by Legacy International.
