New Beginnings

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    New Beginnings

    Give Something Back to Berlin regularly hosts events as a show of the strength and connectedness of our community. The gathering this time was dedicated to a time of change and new beginnings: Newroz.

    By Gordon Hertel
    Communications and Partnerships Intern

    The small room was full of life. People were together in small groups, gathered by the fridge for snacks and drinks, and mingled throughout the space. I recognized a few people: My coworkers, members from the Open Music School, a few Open Kitchen members as well. The seats were all arranged in a circle, and loud upbeat music blasted through the speakers. I see small rolls of Borek with cheese whisked away to couples, friend groups, and families.

    The music; this loud club beat echoes through the hall, and a group of teenagers claim the circle. Their dances are rapid, and the applauses are on beat. A toddler wanders into the circle, initial panic subsides as the teenagers slow down and begin to dance along to the babbling movements. People are laughing and a strong warmth begins to fill the room. A warmth of community and spring.

    A Celebration of Spring and Change

    Give Something Back to Berlin (GSBTB) regularly hosts events as a show of the strength and connectedness of our community. The gathering this time around was dedicated to a time of change and new beginnings: Newroz. It is the celebration of the first day of spring in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia,and the Middle East, accompanied by music, poetry, meals, and one’s local community.

    After a hypnotizing dance performance by Elisa Elli, an international artist with a passion for Silk Road dances, we had a moment of reflection with poetry praising the rising sun and blossoming flowers. I look ed out to all the captivated faces. Babies were busy babbling and couples leaned on each other.

    GSBTB has worked hard to foster this amazing community of dedicated volunteers and visitors, and with Newroz comes the chance of new beginnings. We have come so far together, but we can reach even further. This thought stuck with me as we watched a whirling dance of colorful fabrics and life.

    Changing as a Community

    GSBTB is constantly changing. With each day comes new events, new experiences, and new life to our project spaces from all new people. Diversity and change make GSBTB as unique as it is, and we would be significantly lacking without it.

    Each week, we offer both regular and new activities dedicated to emboldening the local community  with a sense of togetherness. Through the years, we have all grown and expanded our community together, and each week we strengthen this sense of community and we see new faces getting involved with us.

    With our ten year anniversary behind us our focus shifts on the excitement of the next ten. Our events and projects will always be the backbone of our community, and our goal is to always provide experiences to help connect people regardless of any factors. Our Newroz event was an example of how human experiences like music, works of poetry, and movement connect us all.

    By embracing these human experiences, we can see past arbitrary societal boundaries constructed around us and embrace each other.

    For the next ten years and beyond, GSBTB is committed to strengthening this community, and changing every year for the better.

    Photos: Lenny Watson