In some cases, it may be a good idea to set up a support circle in your neighborhood. The support circle is a restorative conversation format where everyone involved is given the opportunity to express how they have been affected by an (often serious) event. In the case of an unexpected incident, it is often impossible to simply carry on with business as usual. The impact on the dynamics within the community is too significant to ignore.
The goal here is not (at least not in the first place) to come up with solutions, but simply to give participants an opportunity to share their feelings and find support with one another. For example: over the weekend there was a devastating fire in a house in the neighborhood. A single dad and his two daughters barely managed to escape from the fire. Father is still in the hospital. The two girls can stay with their grandparents for a while. But the family has lost all their possessions. Many neighbors are shocked by what happened and also feel the need to help. The neighborhood worker calls for a support circle. Getting the opportunity to express how they were affected felt liberating for many neighbors. And on top of that, they decided to organize a benefit event in the neighborhood meeting center to raise money and collect some essential household goods.
We can think of many other examples of situations where a support circle could prove useful. Consider, for instance, a suicide in the building block, the death of a family member, a tragical accident in the neighborhood, a series of serious aggressive incidents etc. All this kind of matters can stir a community deep into its core. Having the opportunity to vent and feel heard can ease a great deal of suffering. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to discuss what the community can do for the ones affected mostly in the neighborhood.
