Our Place

Enjoying a meal with my relatives reminded me that spending quality time with individuals’ loved ones is crucial because it fosters optimism in the face of hardship and cultivates a sense of belonging wherein one feels secure to be vulnerable and share their experiences. This family reunion made me reflect on how the pandemic strained many individual’s interpersonal bonds with the people in their communities. 

Even after social distancing was no longer mandatory, interacting with others online became a “normalized” way of socializing. This reflects a rising concern in modern society: the lack of connection between individuals. Whether it’s being afraid of forming bonds or becoming entrenched in social bubbles, I feel that our sense of community is weakening because we are not willing or able to strengthen our relationships with loved ones by spending quality time together. 

While the pandemic drew attention to this issue, it can be exacerbated by financial constraints, time constraints, social pressures, and harmful norms that are often placed on immigrants and people of color. However, building these relationships can help us find our sense of home by creating a place where we can find trust and comfort in practicing vulnerability with one another, even if we’ve emigrated from another country. This feeling of belonging and acceptance empowers us to articulate our concerns, which is particularly crucial for marginalized communities that must navigate systemic barriers in order to push for justice. In addition, all communities express love through quality time, regardless of the color of their skin. For me, participating and getting involved in community events has allowed me to feel the invisible bond between myself and my community. Thus, we should make sure that everyone’s voice is valued by providing everyone with the support they need to celebrate unity and engage in activities like family dinners and other community-based, in-person events.