Community Connections: Networking with Local Leaders at the Camphill Café

Community Connections is a new collaborative initiative from the Start Local Podcast and Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, made possible by generous gifts from the Camphill Foundation and Quaker Smith Capital, that aims to bring local businesses, nonprofits, and anyone interested in civic stewardship together to address topics of interest for our local communities in a genial setting.

The idea for Community Connections flows from the connection that Robert Martin and Liam Dempsey established when Bob was a guest on the Start Local Podcast. The Director of Development at CVKH, Martin was a podcast guest in a July 2023 episode, “Living, Sharing, and Supporting as a Community.” The impetus of the networking breakfasts stemmed from their shared interest in building connections with those doing valuable work in our local communities.

“I’ve been so impressed by the individuals and organizations featured on the Start Local Podcast,” says Martin, “and eager for CVKH to be part of the community that Start Local has created.”

Liam Dempsey, center, at a Start Local networking event.

Along with a commitment to connecting and supporting local leaders and community members, Dempsey was immediately drawn to the idea of these networking breakfasts at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills.

“Both the local Camphill Village and the Start Local Podcast are focused on bringing people together in meaningful ways, to strengthen the ties of local communities,” notes Dempsey. “Community Connections is a natural way to extend those efforts.”

The Community Connection events will feature a former guest of the Start Local Podcast as a spark to explore timely topics of local interest. The hour-long breakfasts will open with a brief interview with the guest, followed by a group-wide discussion of the topic at hand. Attendees will have plenty of opportunity to meet, mingle, and network with each other.

Held in the Camphill Café, these networking breakfasts are limited to 15 people to encourage personal interaction and meaningful connections.

“We have a lot to learn from each other,” Martin offers, “and I’m looking forward to hosting interesting conversations at the cafe at CVKH.”

Register now for the September 5th event: Open space, agricultural lands, and affordable housing, with Marian Moskowitz.