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ABOUT LIVE SHOWS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Are there conversations that need to happen in your community, but you’re unsure where to start? That’s where we come in! The Breaking Bread Village specializes in facilitating open, honest, and impactful discussions on the topics that matter most.
We gather a panel of seven people, including facilitator Erin Patrice, from your community or surrounding areas to bring differing voices and perspectives to the table.
We share food from local vendors and start a conversation on a topic important to your business, organization, or community.
ABOUT OUR WORK
At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to the humanities—fostering understanding, compassion, and dialogue that strengthens communities and amplifies voices. For the past
three years, we’ve followed a recipe for success:
✅ Creating safe spaces for open and honest conversations
✅ Honoring diverse perspectives
✅ Staying true to our core values
That same foundation guides us as we bring the conversation to you, connecting with even more people, and bridging gaps between ideas and experiences.
WHAT WE DO
We take on the heavy lifting of planning, organizing, and guiding these necessary conversations so you don't have to. You know your community best, so we collaborate to make this the best possible experience.
- We select the topic that speaks to your community needs.
- We gather a panel of guests that have differing perspectives on the topic.
- We create a safe and engaging space for open and honest dialog.
- We collaborate with your local small businesses and food vendors
- We create and share promotional materials for your event.
- We handle registration, set up, clean up, and everything between.
POTENTIAL TOPICS
We service the community - we can discuss and facilitate any topic.
Some examples from past shows:
- Societal Expectations
- Bias & Judgment
- Empathy & Tolerance
- Honesty & Transparency
- Morality, Ideology, & Religion
- The Greater Good the Big Picture
- Body Positivity
- Toxic Masculinity
- Artistry & Freedom of Expression
- Identity & Who We Are
- Journeying Through Grief
- Cancel Culture
- Prison Reform
- Life After Sports
- Vaccinations
- Child Advocacy
- Homelessness & Government Aid
WHO PARTNERS WITH US
- Community Organizations
- Schools, Colleges, & Universities
- Business & Organizations
- Faith Groups
Reach out to us today to discuss how we can help bring important conversations to your community
WHY BRING US
You notice polarization, kind communication, and mental wellbeing is lacking in your business, organization, or community, and you know a conversation needs to happen, but you don't know where to start.
We have a community-driven, data-supported proven recipe to help improve communication, reduce polarization, and bridge differences.
Together we can create connection and growth through empathetic listening and loving conversation.
The Breaking Bread Village creates spaces where people can explore diverse viewpoints, reduce biases, and build empathy. Intellectual humility doesn’t just enrich individual perspectives; it strengthens communities and helps bridge divides across different backgrounds and beliefs.
Erin Patrice
WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
We are community. WE ARE. The WHO WE ARE conversations was a 5-show series in partnership with The Breaking Bread Village and the Midland community at the Grace A Dow Library from 2024-2025.
This series allowed us to explore identity and the common ways we navigate life as humans.
Each show included a panel and a live audience. We provide food from local businesses and food vendors and a place at the table to have a conversation.
TOPICS
- We are Aware - body positivity & toxic masculinity
- We are Impassioned - artistry
- We are Searching - for who we are & answers
- We are Journeying - grief
- We are Human - cancel culture
WHY
Communities were asking for visible projects and programs that provide safe spaces to share ideas, thoughts, and perspectives. They wanted spaces where all people could gain an understanding of others and connect differences in an amicable way.
We listened and formed this series to collectively build, share, and connect with each other. we want to hear from the community, and that includes YOU because WE ARE in this together.
If you want to see change and build connectivity in your villages and communities, you need to first- have a seat at the table and have a conversation.
COMMITMENT
We committed to creating an opportunity to leave changed and see growth within yourself. You were offered the chance to grow your emotional intelligence and understand intellectual humility. You had the opportunity to build your community and expand your village after the Who We Are live show experience!
We are committed to providing the space, resources, viewpoints, and energy to collectively grow our community. we commit to valuing, hearing, respecting, welcoming, and celebrating differences.
includingYOU
includingYOU
The includingYOU conversations were a 6-show series of the Breaking Bread Village & partnership with the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition. Each series was completed in Midland and Bay City in Michigan from 2024-2025.
Each show included a panel and a live audience. We provide food from local businesses and food vendors and a place at the table to have a conversation.
We discussed a range of topics that relate to how we include or exclude others.
TOPICS
- Societal Expectations
- Bias & Judgment
- Empathy & Tolerance
- Honesty & Transparency
- Morality, Ideology, & Religion
- The Greater Good - The Big Picture
HOPE
The Breaking Bread Village had these shows build on each other with the purpose and goal of having the panelists & audience members learn & grow -together- throughout the series.
The hope is that once you came to the first show you'll want to come to the others because learning is an ever-evolving process and growth takes time and dedication.
The goal is not to have every participant leave agreeing with each other- on every point- but rather that we all leave learning from each other.
MISSION
Regardless of series, our mission remains the same.
We create brave spaces for people to share and listen to each other's perspectives in an organic and non-judgemental manner, engage and serve the community through education, service, construct intentional-diverse spaces, and connect the community through shared conversation and exposure to differing views.
Creating spaces, connections, and communities - one conversation at a time.
Live Show Experience Tour
THE LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE TOUR
The Breaking Bread Village hit the road again! With this experience, we travelled across the Great Lakes Bay Region for six impactful shows. We've brought people together across the region to discuss topics that matter to our communities and the chance to listen, learn, and grow.
TOPICS
- Child Advocacy - What About the Children? at Venue 63
- Homelessnness and Government Aid - Are We Doing Too Much or Not Enough? at Delta College Planetarium
- Life After Sports - What Does It Look Like? at the Castle Museum
- Vaccinations: Trust? Test? Truth? at Davenport University
- Guest Reunion Live Show at Central Auditorium
- Prison Reform at Pere Marquette Depot - an important conversation on the justice system about the balance between safety, fairness, and opportunity. Should prison focus on punishment or second chances? Some see it as justice and accountability, while others believe in rehabilitation through education and support. Where is the balance between safety, fairness, and opportunity? We explored the complexities of prison reform AND REENTRY- from DIFFERENT sides.
ABOUT OUR WORK
At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to the humanities—fostering understanding, compassion, and dialogue that strengthens communities and amplifies voices. For the past
three years, we’ve followed a recipe for success:
✅ Creating safe spaces for open and honest conversations
✅ Honoring diverse perspectives
✅ Staying true to our core values
That same foundation guided us on this tour as we connected with even more people, bridging gaps between ideas and experiences.
We hope by modeling active listening, being open, and the art of giving and receiving- whoever witnesses it may try it too in their everyday lives and within themselves. And every once in a while, we sprinkle in a little food to feed the body while we also feed our souls.
Erin Patrice
