Goodness Weekly 2.10.25

“When we feel empathy for others, we are more likely to act in ways that benefit the community as a whole.”
— Daniel Goleman

What’s Good

This weekend’s Second Saturday brought record-breaking energy to the park, making it the busiest day we’ve seen yet. From live music to local vendors, and our bustling Farmers Market, the community showed up in full force to connect in this beautiful space. If you missed it, mark your calendar for next month on March 8, which happens to fall on International Women’s Day. Stay tuned for vendor details and ways to get involved.

Protected, Respected, and Connected

Taylor Bates, Deputy Director, Sunset Ridge Collective

A few weeks ago, I read about how honeybees build their hives—not through top-down leadership but by each bee instinctively contributing to the whole. It struck me how much nature can teach us about forming healthy communities. The more I’ve learned about biomimicry—the practice of looking to nature for solutions—the more I see its wisdom at work here at Charis Park and the Sunset Ridge campus.

In Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to the Age of Accelerations, Thomas Friedman describes how, in a world of rapid technological and societal change, strong communities provide a grounding force. He identifies three essential qualities that help people thrive in these spaces: they feel protected, respected, and connected. Protected, knowing that when life takes an unexpected turn—through illness, job loss, or crisis—their community will rally around them. Respected, knowing that despite differences in perspective, there is mutual care and a shared commitment to the common good. And connected, regularly encountering others and sharing meaningful time together in everyday life.

When these elements take root, something powerful happens—ideas cross-pollinate, people step up to improve shared spaces, and the community begins to evolve and flourish.

That’s exactly what I saw at last weekend’s Second Saturday at Charis Park. Sprouts School partnered with our farmers market to sell student-made creations, raising funds for new garden beds on campus. A mother and daughter from the church who also live in the neighborhood set up a Girl Scout cookie stand by the coffee trailer. Two Collective members, Kim from NYX Wellness and Leslie from Betty’s Co., teamed up to host an outdoor yoga session this upcoming Saturday.

The best part? I didn’t have to create any of these connections—they happened organically. By cultivating the space and the conditions for community to take root, people are finding their own ways to contribute, collaborate, and belong.

This is what we’re building together: a place where people can feel protected, respected, and connected—a place that grows stronger the more it’s nurtured.

So next time you’re at Charis Park or on our campus, take a moment to notice: What new connections are forming? How might you step into the rhythm of this growing community?

This Week

Betty’s Co on Campus - Feb 13th-19th

Saturday, Feb 15th, 9AM - Betty’s Co. & NYX Wellness free outdoor yoga class, Bloom & Breath

Offices and One Another Coffee Closed - Monday, Feb 17th, President’s Day

Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org

Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, Community First Food Pantry, and Betty’s Co.