A Curiae’s First Community Day

By: Wyatt Lim-Tepper

This summer, A Curiae hosted its first Community Day, bringing together clients, colleagues, and staff to connect on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Alameda, CA. It was our first public-facing event that, admittedly, was set with resistance and reservation. The thought of planning a large event, the cost and coordination, and mostly, the worry that people wouldn’t show up (the same reservation and nerves of being that high school junior having a party at their house!). I went to a conference last year where a mentor of mine, Carolyn Hardin, gave a presentation on the importance of social connection. The concepts magnified the public health issue of isolation and encouraged opportunities to host events that bring people together. 

Luckily, with the support of staff, colleagues and our Board, the event turned out to be amazing. We had a scavenger hunt, incredible food, a make your own bouquet table, bubble wands, board games, and art. Clients and court staff brought their families, and we had the distinct privilege of finally meeting some colleagues IRL. 

Vice President Bobby Love shared, “Community Day was a shining example of what we can accomplish when we come together with intention, heart, and purpose. Thank you for recruiting, planning, and showing up: not just physically, but with your full presence and spirit. Like many of you, I wondered what the turnout might look like, and I was blown away by the steady, genuine energy that filled the space. The most beautiful part? You truly couldn’t tell who was a judge, a client, a volunteer, or a community member. We were all just there, together, shoulder to shoulder, celebrating what’s possible.” 

The success of recent initiatives, including our Planting Day, and other community Volunteer Days, has powerfully embedded the values of social connection into the very fabric of A Curiae's work. This approach—which treats connection as a critical intervention—recently earned us an invitation to present at IRETA, an educational institution we deeply admire for its impactful work in the justice system. We are committed to this strategy and plan to host additional volunteer days throughout the next year, with the goal of expanding our 2026 Community Day to dramatically increase our reach.   

Thank you to our Board of Directors, our staff, and attendees for taking the time to connect and spend a few hours off our phones and screens to connect.