Culture Exchange

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** **This dinner in particular will be very special as we celebrate America's 250th birthday. How better to honor a semiquincentennial of democracy that spending an evening practicing it?** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good conversation and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the "slice of life", to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. We are a collaboration between people of all faiths and stripes. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

🌎 Spanish & English Language Exchange What's in store: 💬 Guided topics to spark great conversation 🎲 Board games to practice phrases while you play 😌 Open, welcoming space — all levels and opinions welcome 📖 Pick up new words and expressions naturally Crossroads has a great atmosphere and board games ready to go — the perfect backdrop for meeting people and practicing in a fun, low-key way. ¡Todos son bienvenidos! / Everyone is welcome!

This week we’ll be gathering at Izakaya Nana in Chantilly, Virginia to enjoy some delicious Japanese food, great conversations, and the chance to connect with new friends. Whether it’s your first time attending or you’ve joined us before, we’re excited to have you at the table. Come hungry, bring a positive attitude, and be ready to meet some great people. 💡 Also, bring ideas for future meetups! We’d love to hear your suggestions for restaurants we should explore next. Hidden gems, international cuisine, local favorites—everything is welcome. 🍣 Great Food 🤝 Great People 🌎 New Experiences Looking forward to seeing everyone there! 😊

Want to work on your project or learn new skills? Check out Weird Brothers Craft Exchange! Swap materials and skills. Find a cozy spot to work in peace. Or just enjoy the ambiance with a warm mug in hand.

BreadBreakers is a community where we can discuss hard things while keeping sight of each other's humanity. What better way to practice that than a community forum on immigration? **The [Northern Virginia Returned Peace Corps Volunteers](https://novarpcv.org/) (NOVA RPCVs) has invited the BreadBreakers community to partner with them on a community forum they are hosting to talk about immigration** — history, current issues, and potential solutions. Come and be part of a nuanced, curiosity-first conversation on this important issue! Immigration experts Kamana Mathur and Tom Carroll will provide an overview of the current immigration landscape, take questions, and lead a discussion across diverse viewpoints. The goal is constructive dialogue, improving understanding, and identification of common ground where it exists — and after the session, the hosts will compile the discussion into a white paper outlining suggested reforms. ***New to BreadBreakers?*** BreadBreakers is a community that, in a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time. At our main monthly gatherings, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good conversation and deeper community, check out [our next community dinner on May 28th](https://www.meetup.com/breadbreakers/events/314435661) and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. BreadBreakers is a collaboration between [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA and the wider community where people of all faiths, beliefs, and “stripes” can create a shared town square together. Our leadership and community is a blend of people who attend Restoration, and people who don’t. We are a place where those of all walks of life can hear and be heard, without trying to convince or convert.

Let us meet up for a language exchange. We will give out name tags. You write your name and what language you speak and what language you would like to exchange. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. Rules to abide : 1. Event is free and 21+ (bring ID). 2. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well. 3. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible. 4. If you don't speak the other person's required language, LEAVE THEM ALONE. 5. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion. 6. This is a face-to-face language exchange event. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting, by using the comment box or direct message. 7. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box. 8. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via (info@merevents.com). 9. When you get there, we will greet you and take you to your respective group. 10. Don't be shy of your local languages. We have diplomates assigned to different countries, who would love to practice your languages. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\. 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speaker\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \(info@merevents\.com\)\. We have a school and will arrange you a class\. Also\, if you are a native speaker and would like to teach your language\, apply by email\, we are hiring\. ***AFTER THE EXCHANGE, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***