2015 Porch Host Spotlight #3

Kitty & Rick are BACK!

 

– KITTY & RICK – 

© Marshall E. Peterson Jr.

© Marshall E. Peterson Jr.

 

Talk to us a bit about community, about yourselves, and about PorchFest, please…

 

1 -Is this your first time hosting a porch? Did you get to go to PorchFest last year? Why/why not?

No, we hosted a porch last year. We were not able to attend any but ours last year because we were having some much fun at our own porch!

 

2- What got you interested in PorchFest? What do you think about it?

We love the idea of creating a welcome space at our home to enjoy music, local authors, and to develop community!

 

3-What were your favorite things about last year?

We loved the mix of people from West Central and from other neighborhoods, who came together to enjoy great local music and authors.

 

4- What advice would you give to new porch hosts??

Have chairs and shade (if you don’t have shelter from the sun).

 

5- What is “community”? How do we build it? Does it happen automatically or does it need catalysts?

“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.” – Jean Vanier

Community isn’t a place. It is a feeling among people of wanting to be together. Community takes intention on the part of individuals to create. We create it when we identify ourselves as part of something larger than the sum of our individual relationships.

 

6- What advice would you give to visitors for this year? Did you learn anything that you’d like to share to help newbies be more successful?

Be flexible, try to have fun, and don’t stress it if things aren’t “perfect.” This is meant to be a laid back event.

 

7- What have you done to build community? What else would you like to do?

We are VERY involved in local efforts to make Spokane an even better community – involved in local social and environmental justice efforts, neighborhood council work, working to create more options for bikes and pedestrians, and creating an even more vibrant arts community that is accessible for everyone. We think people should look for options to volunteer for a cause that is near and dear to their hearts and can make Spokane a better community for everyone!

 

8- What do you hope to accomplish at PorchFest? What do you want to help PorchFest accomplish?

We hope PorchFest provides an opportunity for folks across the West Central neighborhood to come together to enjoy art and music and get to know each other. We hope PorchFest becomes a tool for furthering the creation of an amazing West Central community.

 

9- What have you been doing to help PorchFest since last year’s event?

We moved into a new home with a great home with a perfect porch for this event!