How Alex C. from Wheaton, IL is Launching an Idealist Days Community From the Ground Up

When Alex C. first learned about Idealist Days, she immediately saw its potential for uniting her small community in Wheaton, IL.

"I thought Idealist Days was a great opportunity because it involves so much of the community," he says. "The fact that it's a global movement made it even more impactful, and I wanted to be involved."

Having spent most of her life in Wheaton, Alex says she knew the movement’s mission to connect neighbors around positive actions would strike a chord. For her, it’s more than joining a volunteer opportunity; Idealist Days is about bringing people together. 

Already, she’s had the chance to meet people from vastly different backgrounds. On Idealist Day 5/5, Alex hosted a walk around a local park and met Rose M., a former nonprofit executive who immigrated to the United States and now lives in Chicago. After spending a few hours talking and making friendship bracelets, their conversation led Rose to plan her own Idealist Day event for 6/6. She ended up hosting a Zumba class and invited Alex to attend. 

"Rose has so much to offer," Alex says. "She shared her experiences, the people she's met, and ways she's built community. That's what Idealist Days is about."

Although Wheaton's Idealist Days events recently launched this past spring, Alex has ambitious plans for the future. She’s hoping to recruit co-hosts, connect with schools, churches, and local organizations, and invite more residents to help shape what the movement becomes.

"I want to consult with other people about what they want this to be in our town," he says. "Right now we do service acts, but I want people to see this group as a space to gather and brainstorm together."

Alex plans to continue hosting gatherings on Idealist Days for the foreseeable future, inspired by a quote from Plato she recently journaled about: Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.

“It really speaks to me,” she said. “There's a big personal journey through Idealist Days for me, and that quote shows how much I've learned already."

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If you’re wondering how to launch an Idealist Days group in your local community, here are a few steps to get started:

• Sign up to get involved in Idealist Days, and stay in touch by registering for the free Idealists in Action newsletter, sent monthly.
• Start small by gathering friends, co-workers, or family members to talk about how you can make a positive impact in your local community once a month on Idealist Days.
• Browse local volunteer opportunities to join an existing positive action.
• As you grow, post your event on Idealist’s Global Calendar via Luma to invite others in your area to join you for projects.
• Submit your photos and reflections to actions@idealist.org.