News: Getting Involved - Activated Spaces

 





Activated Spaces Committee

I went to my first Activated Spaces Committee meeting today and for some reason I thought that volunteering meant doing grunt work by helping the artists put up their exhibits. But in actuality I volunteered to be on the panning board! I wouldn't have minded doing physical labor but helping with the planning and awareness efforts of the campaign is going to be very rewarding. Today, I had a chance to preview all the artist submissions. The work that I saw looked great and I'm excited to see it come to fruition in the store windows.

Small World, Small World

The people at the meeting were all so welcoming and friendly. It was great to meet other people who care so much about the Downtown Dayton area. I did meet one person in particular that I was pseudo familiar with...she was the person who lived in our place before us! AND we are friends with two of her friends which we met through a park clean up and live not too far away in our neighborhood. Here's basically how the convo went...

Her: Where do you live?
Me: I live...
Her: Oh I used to live there too
Me: Oh, which street?
Her: So-and-so street
Me: Umm, did you live at...?
Her: Whoa, yes! Do YOU know...
Me: So-and-So!?
Her: Yes! She's been saying I should meet you guys
Me: She has said the same thing to me too!
end scene

Now that's some cutting edge drama there. So we are planning an elaborate (not that elaborate) scheme to meet up and surprise the people we mutually know. Sure that sounds a little cheesy but there's only a few times in your life you can plan some schmaltzy TV-like scenario, amirite? Anyhow, I also had the chance to meet John who is on the board of the Focus Photo Club. I'm not sure why I never thought of joining a photo club to motivate me to learn how to take better photos but I guess that's what meeting new people will get you. It was a bit of an epiphany for me and I look forward to joining the club!

In short...

I haven't been a volunteer/club type since school. And I haven't been involved because I honestly never thought about it. When you are at school there's so much easy access to clubs, events and socializing that all you do is step out your dorm room and talk with people about what is going on. I think that easy access made me lazy and not think of seeking out clubs and organizations. Stumbling upon the Activated Spaces volunteer page has opened up a whole new persepctive of getting involved. So hopefully this little post will inspire you all to get out there in your own communities to meet new people, meet some pseudo familiar people and even pick up a few skills. Love to hear more volunteer/club inspiration, so please share any clubs or volunteering you are involved with or wish to get involved with.