Series of interfaith dinners seeks to build bridges

Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, Woodlawn-Faith United Methodist Church and faith communities along the Route 1 corridor are partnering with Ventures in Community to host “Breaking Bread, Breaking Walls,” a series of four interfaith, multiracial and multiclass community dinners over the coming month.

The goal of the free dinners, according to organizers, is to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to form relationships and find common ground, thereby dismantling racism and xenophobia. Discussion topics will include how food rituals inform identity; how rituals, holidays and spiritual practices bring holiness into everyone’s lives; the impact of racism and xenophobia; how language can create bonds or damage; and how to build bridges across the community.

The Breaking Bread dinners will take place on Sunday, March 17, March 31, April 14 and April 28 at 5 p.m. at Woodlawn Faith United Methodist Church. While registration for the March 17 dinner closes today, residents can sign up for the other dinners by contacting Maria Ward of Rising Hope United Methodist Church at mward@risinghopeumc.org.