For the past nine years we have had an Engaged Buddhism Study Group. As a result of this group, interest in engaging our practice in community efforts grew and this led to establishing the EB Committee. Over the past few years this Committee has allowed our Sangha to accomplish several projects that have benefited the environment and/or our community neighbors.
Currently all of the EB efforts are running along smoothly and this, no doubt, will continue to be true. The EB Study Group will continue to meet; people will continue to be fed through our Pantry Program and our Prado Sunday meal effort. We have partnered with EcoSLO to clean beaches and our shared tree project is winding down with the new trees in Johnson Park already casting some needed shade. We have furnished numerous transitional housing units for folks in need of housing both in SLO and in Santa Maria and built beds for kids who were sleeping on floors. We have participated in several election cycles and have again adopted the Avila Beach polling site for this November’s election.
All of these efforts have benefited our wider community as well as those of us who have participated in them. I have been privileged to lead this EB effort and have enjoyed and grown from this work. However, it is time for me to “retire” from leading and move to mentoring the next EB Committee Chair as he/she takes on leadership of WHS EB efforts. There are always new needs/ opportunities for EB projects in the community, and new leadership could help meet these needs.
If you are interested in keeping our EB response to community needs strong, then please consider moving into leadership of the EB Committee. If you are interested in environmental and social justice issues, have a regular Buddhist practice, have good organizational skills and some tech proficiency, and are wanting to find a fulfilling volunteer commitment, then this might well be your dream job! If interested, please text (805-909-0405) or email me Sharon Rippner.