We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erin Patrice. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erin Patrice below.
Hi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Breaking Bread Village (TBBV) was created on May 12, 2020, during the height of the pandemic, while tensions were high and civility appeared to be a thing of the past. The need for empathetic and transparent conversations about important and often divisive topics was evident and served as a catalyst to form The Breaking Bread Village. Based on the idea that “It takes a village,” the Breaking Bread Village (TBBV) has intentionally created a safe space free of judgment. Within this space, we intend for everyone to feel confident that ideas and perspectives will be heard. When people think they have no voice, love, creativity, and hope- can take a back seat to indifference, malice, and disdain. Through our conversations, TBBV strives to create bonds and relationships that allow people to form bridges they can all walk across to achieve a common goal motivated by peace. There is no shorter or more significant divide than the distance between two people. It is up to us individually to acknowledge, evaluate, and lessen that space to reach the possibility of true understanding, and this has been the journey and mission of TBBV since its conception.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, the only “challenge” has been ensuring that I’ve stayed on task regarding the mission. I truly believe that we should and will create spaces for ALL VOICES, but what I’ve learned along this journey is that everyone who says they want “inclusive” spaces doesn’t seem to truly want that. I’ve been criticized for allowing voices- that some believe are “divisive”- on panel discussions. So that’s when I began to realize that I had a different understanding of what inclusion means- than others. That has been challenging and not in a bad way but more in an awareness and reflecting way.
Some lessons I’ve learned have been more of confirmations. Meaning there are things that I’ve always believed in, but I’ve been able to “put them into action and truly see the impact they have on this journey. Some examples are that (1) You should always be consistent. Consistency has been the magic that has made so many dreams come true. Even when I had no budget, no idea of the future, and little help- I had to keep going. My husband told me when I first started this, “If you have nothing else- be consistent. If you say you’re going to do something every Tuesday or every month- do it! So, know your limits and capabilities. What you say you’re going to do, just make sure you can consistently do it.” And that’s been a game-changer. (2) You have to be YOUR YES! In a world filled with NOs, I decided that I had to be my YES! When someone told me NO along this path, I decided to hear, “Not right now or not with me, but never a definite NO. What I found was that when people don’t share your vision or are even able to see it- they respond with a NO based on that. But I can see the vision, and I also believe in it, so I’ve had to be my YES! Once I activated that mindset- with no pausing or questioning- everything changed. It’s kept me going and motivated. It’s literally changed the playing field. Believing in yourself is a superpower. (3) And you have to keep dreaming and see it until you see it. Seeing something before you SEE it is so important. You have to be able to do that to achieve your goals. If you can’t see it, then how can you expect others to? Plus, even when they don’t, the power is still seeing the goal- even if you have to believe and see on your own. It’s so important. Trust me- when you stay focused and driven- others will see that and choose to walk alongside you. Trust me. You make the difference in your dreams coming true. Not everyone else.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Thanks for asking. I do offer other community services- such as keynote speaking. I offer my Heart of Leadership and Creating Spaces course. It’s been fun traveling and sharing space with educators, students, community leaders, and organizations. So yeah- wonderful times.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy? Wow- such a big, broad question. Having joy makes me happy. Seeing people connect and laugh makes me happy. My family and friends do it for me and meeting new people- of course. I don’t know- genuine connections and moments make my heart smile. I’m a pretty simple person, so small acts of kindness and realness are everything for me. Watching a sunset or the leaves blow- on a windy day- is beautiful for me. So yeah, I’m pretty simple that way.
Contact Information:
- Website: tbbv.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thebreakingbreadvillage/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreakingbreadvillage/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmdF-x-r_7WPLf-a5yrsmBQ?view_as=subscriber
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