Initiatives
ECHO OUTREACH
Conversation groups were one of the first ECHO efforts. Initiated in 2004, conversation groups are informal socialization groups that turn strangers into friends. Each group is usually small—about 5-7 people—with the capacity to grow. Conversation groups are not about networking and making business connections; conversation groups are about connecting with people across our lines of difference.
Interested individuals sign up to participate at any time by providing some basic demographic information and information about interests and/or community service. Those individuals are then matched into a group with others who, at least on paper, are different from themselves, thereby creating social groups of diverse people who are all interested in connecting with others in the community.
Many conversation groups simply meet over dinner once a month to catch up and chat like any other friend group. Others may meet at community events or gatherings like Gallery Hop or an exhibit opening. Each group is free to determine what level of interaction will work best for their group, including meeting time and days. A few of the original conversation groups convened by ECHO have been meeting for over six years!
