I don’t know about anyone else right now, but I find myself looking for a place to belong. In a world where you can have just about anything delivered, check in with others through social media, and even date online, personal interaction is becoming unnecessary. It is so easy to feel isolated. How do we combat these feelings? The answer is in community building.
Community building brings people together often through a shared interest or activity. It provides a sense of belonging and support. Community enhances our well-being and connects us to others. If you want to become involved in a community, there are lots of ways to do so in the Coachella Valley. Below are a few ideas to get you started.
Community Building Through Artistic Endeavors
Are you creative? Taking art classes is an excellent opportunity for community building. Classes provide a space to work with others that have similar interests to yours. You can find support from your teachers and fellow students and master new techniques and skills. Whatever your preferred medium is, there is an art community for you in the Coachella Valley.
Old Town Artisan Studios in La Quinta offers classes and workshops in painting, ceramics, pottery wheel, drawing, and glass.
For those on the west end of the valley, the Desert Art Center has a full schedule of art classes in Palm Springs. Memberships are also available.
The Knitting Guild of the Desert meets monthly in Palm Desert. The guild provides a welcoming and safe environment for knitters to share their work and build friendships.
Another form of art is theatre. Develop your acting and singing skills at Coachella Valley Repertory in Cathedral City and hang out with other thespians.
How Wine Can Build Community
In moderation, wine builds community. From the earliest of times, it has been a symbol of celebration and connection. If you love drinking wine, learning about winemaking and the different varietals is interesting and fun. Wine pairs wonderfully with food providing another option to bring people together. A bottle of wine is meant to be shared. So, where do you go in the desert to find a community of wine lovers?
Become a “Wine Warrior” of the Desert Wine Shop on 111. Members of this wine club enjoy a sommelier selected 6-pack of wine, weekly discounted tastings, member-only pickup parties, and discounts on bottles of wine (some exclusions apply). Even better, a group of Wine Warriors meet each month for dinner at a local restaurant where corkage fees are waived. The conversation flows as does the wine.
La Fe Wine Bar on El Paseo also has a wine club. Members receive three premium bottles of wine every two months, access to special member events, two complimentary wine flights per month, plus discounts on wine tastings, food, bottles of wine, and merchandise. I have met some wonderful people at their evening wine tastings.
Building Community by Volunteering
One of the most rewarding ways to build community is by volunteering. Whatever the cause, you will meet people willing to give their time and be bound together by a common goal. While being part of a community provides many benefits, volunteering has been found to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mental and physical health. I spend one day each week at the Desert Hot Springs Animal Shelter and have met a wonderful group of volunteers, many of whom have become a friend.
There is an abundance of charitable organizations looking for volunteers in the Coachella Valley including:
- Animal Samaritans
- Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy
- Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
- Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- Find Food Bank
- Voices for Children
- Loving All Animals
Community Building with Exercise
We all know that exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body, but it can also help you develop a sense of community. Whatever your game is, there are others playing it as well.
The popularity of pickleball has exploded. This team sport has a huge following. While many country clubs in the valley sell memberships that include pickleball, several public parks have courts as well. Palm Desert Civic Park, Fritz Burns Park, and Freedom Park are just a few.
Yoga studios not only teach breathing, flexibility, and balance, they are often actively involved in community building. Gather Yoga & Wellness in La Quinta and Heart and Sol Yoga in Rancho Mirage are two studios who focus on community through innovative programming.
Desert Recreation District is a fantastic resource and offers sports classes and clinics across the valley.
How Your Local Business Can Foster Community
Community building is all about spending time with others to develop a sense of connection. But the time spent does not need to be long. One of my favorite communities is the staff and regulars at Cali Rosina in Old Town La Quinta. Each morning, I stop by for one of their tasty tea drinks on my way to work. The owners, Jodie and Josh, their staff, and I exchange updates and stories while they prepare my order. I converse with fellow regulars about the upcoming day. At the most, I am there for 15 minutes or so, but I leave feeling like I belong.
Local restaurants and bars are another unexpected place to find community. Picture the gang on the television show “Cheers” where everyone knew their name. Frequenting a locally owned establishment can build the same type of comradery. I love to watch football at RD RNNR on Sundays and find many from my neighborhood community doing the same. We cheer on our teams and do some trash talking. Even the bartenders get in on the fun. The Local on 50th does a great job of cultivating community through trivia and karaoke nights which attract a regular crowd. Find your own “Cheers” or RD RNNR near you.
This is just a small sampling of the community building opportunities in the Coachella Valley. Find what interests you and get “Out of the House!”
Where do you find your community? Tell me in the comment section below.