There is an abundance of intolerance and evil in today’s world, but events like Q Commons aim to diminish these problems. This event seeks to inform Christians on how to “bring hope and leadership to their communities in a critical cultural moment.”
People from various religious, cultural and political backgrounds gathered in Madden Theatre on Oct. 25 to discuss ways to believe and pursue the common good. Naperville was one of the many locations around the world where people gathered for the event.
The event included three local speakers along with three national speakers that were presented via live stream. The talks covered topics such as hospitality, tolerance and giving back to the community through charity.
The national speakers included author, leadership coach and church planter Jo Saxton who discussed the importance of providing hospitality to not only your friends but strangers as well. CEO and founder of charity: water Scott Harrison talked about the importance of giving back to your community. Finally, author Bob Goff discussed how we need to know why we are doing certain things that we believe are for the common good.
The local speakers then took the stage to inform the Naperville audience on how to be a part of social change in their town. Matthew Soerens also discussed hospitality and welcoming strangers. “Real hospitality goes beyond welcoming the stranger, it means embracing them,” he said. “Making them a part of us.”
Marion Ruthig founded the DuPage Inside Out Club that helps children build character skills so they are able to apply it later in life.
“The Inside Out Club provides children and families opportunities to practice social and emotional learning skills and volunteer,” she said. “We believe if you empower children and families through character and volunteerism. Not only will they thrive, but they will improve the communities in which we all live.”
Mynk Richardson-Clerk, ‘20, was the final speaker. Her presentation was titled “We Who?” as it brought up the topics of racism, microaggressions and other issues involving minorities. She discussed how we can limit these issues in society and that how being blind to color isn’t enough.
“If we truly believe that God created us to be special and to be masterpieces why must we whitewash that? God didn’t create diversity for us to close our eyes to it,” Richardson-Clerk said. “Race is a social construct but it has very real social effects.”
Q Commons ended with an audience discussion covering what each speaker brought up and offering new ideas for people to work toward the common good.
