Stories of Belonging

Belonging is more than a feeling – it’s a commitment. We need one another, and each of us has a role to play; Belonging begins with listening, and continues with action. Speak up, reach out, and help to make Rockford a welcoming place for all.

Rockford is a city that embraces differences and recognizes the shared humanity of all those who live, work and visit our community, and works to build a culture of belonging where everyone knows that they are seen, heard, and valued.

Here we share a highlight from several diverse community members who have a love for Rockford. These stories celebrate our differences and capture the ways in which each person has found or works to build a sense of belonging in Rockford. We hope that these stories inspire you to tell your own, and to see that a stronger Rockford is rooted in a culture of shared belonging.

These stories reflect some of the many voices, journeys, and experiences that shape our Rockford Community. Through personal reflections, each interviewee shares what it means to feel a sense of belonging, to be seen, heard, valued, and empowered with opportunity and voice, in our city. Together, these conversations highlight the connections that strengthen us and the diverse experiences that make Rockford a place where everyone can thrive.

You can make a difference. Join the movement! Tell your own belonging stories, and help others to tell theirs. You can engage in the work of belonging in several ways:

• Record your own belonging videos using the green screen room at Rockford Public Library
• Record your own belonging stories using the podcasting studio at Rockford Public Library
• Print your own belonging t-shirts or personal items using the screenprinting resources at Rockford Public Library
• 3D print your own belonging keychain or bookmark at Rockford Public Library
• Resources for Educators and youth-serving professionals: Help youth tell their own belonging stories through artistic expression using the resources developed by art teacher Jordan DeWilde at Rockford Area Arts Council

There are so many ways to build belonging and engage in the work, and there are many books and movies related to belonging. Find a selection of books and other stories here:

• Books about Connection and Belonging — a staff-created list from Skokie Public Library | Boston Public Library | BiblioCommons
• 21 Books About Belonging and Identity – HarperCollins
• A Summer Reading List on Belonging
• 11 Striking Novels About Identity and Belonging | Celadon Books

• Belonging Through Books | WOSU Public Media from WOSU Public Media – a digital read-aloud list
• Books on Belonging and Community – DEI Reading Lists – UWM Libraries Research and Course Guides at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Books Can Give Kids a Sense of Belonging. Share These Titles and Set the Tone for a New School Year. | School Library Journal
• 15+ Books to Promote Belonging in the Classroom | Scholastic