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Your leadership team has been busy this month laying the foundation for a successful conference. Read on for the latest updates.

Building Bridges Mission, Vision, and Cultural Statement

Building Bridges is an all-ages, light-hearted, and inclusive conference grounded in Unitarian Universalist values. We celebrate diversity,  freedom of exploration, and a sense of wonder. Our mission is to forge and strengthen the connections between our families and conferees-new and old.

Conference Goals

The goal of the Building Bridges Conference is to...

1. Create an all-ages inclusive environment where conferees have the freedom to explore in an intentional community that is based in Unitarian Universalist principles an values.
2. Uphold the Beloved Community Project and be a Welcoming Conference, spreading empathy and understanding, and celebrating our diversity.
3. Grow as a conference, spreading the joy of Star Island to more families and conferees, new and old.
4. Work in tandem with the natural surroundings of the island, encouraging our conferees to feel both a sense of wonder and responsibility for its environment.
5. Provide conference content and opportunities that are intellectually stimulating, emotionally fulfilling, mind-opening, and intentional community-building for all ages.
6. Craft a conference that meets the needs of a wide range of conferees, offering periods of bonding, socializing, introspection, rest, rejuvenation, and fun.

Theme: Deepening Faith

Minister of the Week

We are so pleased to share that Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan is returning as the Minister of the Week for Building Bridges 2023!!


Shari was loved into being by a large extended family in Los Angeles made up of white folks and Chinese immigrants who did not come here “the right way,” civil servants, a stunt driver, workers in the gig economy before we called it that, and so many others. Shari is the lead minister of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester and enjoys that alongside such activities as learning about new places, talking to Lyft drivers, and throwing parties.

Shari’s wife Elisabeth is an opera singer and currently serves as the social events coordinator of the Halliday-Quan household. They share their home in Rochester with a big cat named Hildegard, visiting family and friends, and never enough houseplants.

Building Bridges Workshops


We are pleased to announce that Building Bridges 2023 will be offering two workshops. This will provide individuals the opportunity to choose which topic and style of workshop is best for them. Below is a brief overview of the workshop offerings. More information to follow.
 

Workshop 1

Unitarian Universalist History. Led by Beth Manchester-Howell. Beth is currently in seminary and teaches History and Comparative Religion. 
 

Workshop 2

Delving Deeper into the eight spheres of Spiritual Practices. Led by Lori McNally. Lori has a Masters Degree in Education, teaches fourth grade and has led previous adult workshops.

Youth Programs


Building Bridges Youth Programs strive to have something for everyone! We offer programming for infants - young adults (0-20) in the mornings. We also offer childcare (0-5) in the afternoon. Our goal, as always in our Youth Programming is for kids and youth to have a chance to create new friendships and grow existing bonds, while also giving parents and caregivers time to enjoy adult programming or just take a break. 

Mornings in our Youth Program are spent enjoying nature on both land and sea. They take island field trips to the Pelican Garden, Marine Lab, Music Barn, and Art Barn. Youth also enjoy telling stories, singing, laughing, making and launching the "famous" bottle rockets on the front lawn, the always popular "Duct Tape" regatta, and so much more! Please visit the Youth Program's tab on our website for more information.   

This year our morning Youth Programs will run from 9:30 - 12:00 PM, and our afternoon childcare will run from 1:30 - 3:00 PM
 
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