Caring and Sharing: Cultivating a Deep Sense of Belonging
Publication information:
Abstract
This study examines how spiritual communities cultivate a deep sense of belonging amid political polarization in the United States. Drawing on interdisciplinary theories of belonging as a core human need, it analyzes two contrasting cases: a lay Buddhist organization that sustains inclusive, nonpartisan belonging through shared practice and individual dignity, and an educational association that explicitly engages diversity, equity, and inclusion through dialogue, principles, and organizational action. Together, these cases illuminate complementary pathways—practice-centered and values-explicit—for sustaining belonging across difference, offering insights for spiritual communities navigating division, moral commitment, and communal cohesion in contemporary social life.
Presenter Biography
Melanie Reiser is the executive director, membership for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). Before joining AWSNA, Melanie spent eight years as a class teacher at Detroit Waldorf School. Melanie holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver, an MEd in Waldorf Education from Antioch New England Graduate School, an MEd in Value Creating Education for Global Citizenship from DePaul University, and a BA in Math from the University of Virginia.