Connection is a Continued Effort

Part of the Isa’s Corner series: reflections on belonging, identity, and community in Battle Creek.

Connection, the way I’ve been learning to understand it, isn’t a single moment. Rather, it’s something we need time and time again. On January 20th, I celebrated National Day of Racial Healing along with 400 community members at BCTRHT’s Rhythm of our Humanity Event. As I was walking around, camera in hand, I stopped at the sight of one of the tables at the event. An information table, with hundreds of small pins that were being handed out to guests. These small pins, handed out by Talia Champlin and Jennifer Nottingham, were part of creating the  ‘BelongBC’ movement. BelongBC is a movement focused on community connection and on creating a commitment to making Battle Creek a city where all feel loved, welcomed, and empowered. 

Unexpectedly, the shared goal of this movement really affected me. It showed me that connection, like those small pins, is more than a moment. Standing there, watching people pick up a pin and smile at the simple message of belonging, I felt how much intention lives behind community work. Connection doesn’t just appear because we gather in the same room; it grows because people like Talia and Jennifer keep showing up, keep inviting others in, and keep believing that Battle Creek can be a place where everyone feels connected.

This moment reminded me to keep choosing connection even when society seems polarized. Choosing connection is a commitment to making the world a place where all feel loved, welcomed, and empowered. Belong BC is a great reminder of what is possible when choosing connection becomes a commitment to making our community a place where all feel loved, welcomed, and empowered. This moment reminded me how foundational connection is to any kind of change.

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Isa’s Corner is a storytelling series exploring belonging, identity, and community through the reflections of a young leader growing and learning in Battle Creek.