Last night we hosted our neighborhood for America’s Sunday Supper. Across the country people were opening their homes to welcome the community with the goal of bringing people together, talking about issues and more importantly solutions, and celebrating volunteering with the goal of strengthening communities. This initiative is a program of 
Points of Light and encourages the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as not a day off, but a day on. Bob and I hosted 20 neighbors for an evening of good conversation. Topics ranged from Neighborhood Watch, the need for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) to a controversial local development project. Stories were shared of service from a couple who traveled to Central America on a church mission to volunteering at a community garden. One neighbor is hosting two women who are training for the Olympic trials in rowing. They will be here for 3 months as they practice for what will hopefully take them to London this summer. They made new friends who will be encouraging and will root them on towards victory. I was struck by the natural diversity of the neighborhood and those who joined us. African American, Latino, Caucasian; gay, straight; college students to retirees; academics, government employees, business professionals. This richness of backgrounds and perspectives makes us stronger as a community. While many topics were discussed in a very free flowing evening, one solid commitment was made to start a CERT. If only this kind of gathering could happen, street by street, city by city, on a more regular basis resulting in a more healthy and vibrant society. www.Pointsoflight.org