Creating
Rudi is a living example of a “Renaissance human.” A senior at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he has a double major in English and Statistics and is working towards a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. “It is,” he says, “a lot of work, but fun.” In his spare time he enjoys biking around, cooking recipes from the 17th and 18th centuries, and creating things with his hands, currently by crocheting and embroidering.
Rudi came to Bread+Belonging in a roundabout way. Friends in another campus group that he was part of came to B+B regularly and stubbornly kept inviting him. About a year and a half ago, with an open timeslot on Tuesday evenings, he finally came. And he kept coming back, both because he enjoyed being with his friends and because he found that B+B was such a welcoming space. The healthy and delicious meals that Bread+Belonging provides and the way it offers a regular break from the stresses of campus life were important too. “It felt separated from campus enough to be a good place to relax from studies,” Rudi explained, “and to eat really good free food.”
Since then, he has found that Bread+Belonging has been a stepping-stone to creating a larger community of friends and neighbors. Undergraduates, graduate students, international students, and older B+B hosts and guest speakers create a broad cross section of thoughts, ideas, and interests. Conversations around the table during dinner provide the opportunity both to catch up with friends and to get to know new people. “It’s made me more open to people,” Rudi explains, “in high school and freshman year, I was pretty closed in on myself. Going to B+B has made me more open to connections with people who are different from myself, people who are older or have different life experiences.” Not only has he found more friends at B+B, but his relationships have grown beyond campus. Through B+B, he has learned about and taken advantage of opportunities to volunteer in the wider Boulder community. He is looking forward to being a part of more such opportunities in the year ahead.
We are so grateful for your care for Bread+Belonging; your generosity touches the lives of many students like Rudi. Your support for Lutheran Campus Ministry sustains the ministry of Bread+Belonging, helping students widen their friendships and expand their connections to a larger community. Thank you!