What Viva Village Means to Me, Kindness, respect and inclusivity

On my first volunteer day, I arrived to weed a member’s garden with garden gloves, knee pads, and a bucket. I worried I wouldn’t know a weed from an ornamental plant, and I wouldn’t have the stamina to complete the task. What I learned is that weeding a garden is never complete and members are grateful for any assistance.

New to Beaverton, I came to Viva Village wanting to learn about and contribute to my adopted community. Beyond the desire to be of service was the hope of friendships, support, and a sense of belonging. In Viva Village, I found all that and more. After four years of involvement with the Village, I want to share my experiences.

Viva Village’s foundational values of kindness, respect, and inclusivity made getting involved easy. My first direct service endeavors were weeding and dog-walking. On the organizational support side, I offered to write essays for the Viva Village Voice, which had recently lost its founding essayist.

A year in, I floated the idea of a monthly Soup Lunch in my home so I could meet more people. As a confirmed introvert, it was much less scary to meet new people on my home turf than to strike up a conversation at a larger event. Now others share with me the responsibilities and fun of Soup Lunch and it’s gratifying to still be meeting new people and welcoming friends back to the table.

Today, I’m more involved with Village communications generally and have just completed the first year of a two-year term on the governing council.

My engagement with Viva Village has given me a sense of purpose and an outlet to express my twin passions – cooking and writing. I’ve had the opportunity to learn new software, explore new ideas, and channel my creativity in new and exciting ways.

Involvement with Viva Village helped me turn my desires to be of service, build friendships, find support, and feel a sense of belonging into reality. It’s allowed me to live my values in a way that feels honest while still challenging me intellectually. Most important to me, Viva Village has turned my new community into a place I call home.

By Roberta S Lang, Viva Villager. For more information on membership or volunteer opportunities, contact us: 503-746-5082 | info@vivavillage.org.