Community Walls
What is it like to live in your community? That's the question that hostellers often want answered when they travel, because they're interested in how people really live, how they think, and what they do. With our new "Community Wall" program, we're going to give hostellers a taste of what they're looking for.
The idea is that HI-USA will be reaching out to youth groups across the country; asking them to create displays about what it's like for them to live in their hometown. What are the best spots in town to visit? What's off the beaten track that only the locals know about? Are there area traditions or ethnic groups that make the town unique? What food should hostellers try when they visit? What is the local historical heritage? What sort of jobs do people have? Are there particular local connections to natural resources or cultural identities? What do people do for fun?
These displays created by youth groups will provide a unique local perspective for hostellers from around the world. Community Wall projects will also be fun for the youth involved, and help them to learn about their own cultural community identity.
Completed Community Wall projects, which may incorporate a variety of mediums, will eventually be shared within HI-USA hostels, councils, and in virtual form on this Web site.
If you have an interest in creating a Community Wall and have a connection with a school or youth group that would like to be involved, please fill out the information below and we will contact you regarding next steps.
Keep coming back to this site in the months ahead to see and hear examples of Community Walls being creating by young people for hostellers from around the world. Hostellers want to learn about American communities from the people who live in them. Create a Community Wall - tell the world what's it like to live in your hometown!