Scarsdale GRACE Committee Invites You to Participate in Community Conversations and to Take a Survey

(This letter was sent by the The Scarsdale GRACE Working Group)

Dear Scarsdale Community,

Scarsdale is a community that cares deeply about its people. Time and again, we come together with generosity, compassion, and a willingness to support one another during life’s celebrations, challenges, and moments of need.

Several events this past spring reminded us that caring for a community also means being thoughtful about how we treat one another, particularly in moments of disagreement or tension. GRACE is about strengthening how we navigate those moments—with respectful dialogue, constructive accountability, compassion, empathy, and a commitment to moving forward together.

Over the past several months, the Scarsdale Foundation has engaged a diverse group of over 80 community members from over 50 community groups to explore how Scarsdale might build on these many strengths, with this dedicated commitment.

Those conversations led to the creation of Scarsdale GRACE—Growing Respect, Accountability, Compassion & Empathy. Our mission is to explore ways Scarsdale can strengthen a culture of community connection, while fostering an environment in which all community members can learn, grow, navigate differences, and move forward together.

GRACE will partner with schools, faith communities, local government, and other community groups to host a series of facilitated conversations throughout the community.

These community conversations are intended to bring together people with a variety of experiences and perspectives to listen to one another, share ideas, and help shape the future of GRACE.

The ideas and themes that emerge from these conversations will be shared at a community-wide gathering, where all community members will be invited to continue the conversation and help identify opportunities for moving this work forward together.

We warmly invite you to participate in our Community Conversations and our community survey.

How to Participate:

Click HERE to sign up to participate in a Community Conversation.

Click HERE to participate in our community survey.

Communities grow stronger when people listen with curiosity, engage with respect, and remain open to understanding one another.

We hope you will join us as we continue building Scarsdale GRACE together.

With gratitude,
The Scarsdale GRACE Working Group

GRACE FAQ

What is Scarsdale GRACE?

Growing Respect, Accountability, Compassion & Empathy

A community effort to strengthen respectful dialogue, constructive accountability, compassion, empathy, and community connection.

Why GRACE?

Scarsdale is a community that cares deeply about its people. Time and again, we come together with generosity and compassion during times of illness, loss, or hardship.

Several events this past spring reminded us that caring for a community also means being thoughtful about how we treat one another, particularly in moments of disagreement or tension. GRACE is about strengthening how we navigate those moments—with respectful dialogue, constructive accountability, compassion, empathy, and a commitment to moving forward together.

Our Guiding Principles

● Kindness and accountability are not mutually exclusive.
● Every person deserves dignity and respect, even when opinions differ.
● Healthy communities create space for learning, repair, and growth.
● We can disagree without being disagreeable.

Over the past several months, the Scarsdale Foundation engaged a group of community members, faith leaders, and representatives of local organizations, schools, and neighborhood associations. The group includes more than 80 representatives from over 50 community groups, reflecting a broad cross-section of Scarsdale. The group is now seeking input from the wider community to shape GRACE’s priorities and guide its next steps.

The ideas and themes that emerge will be shared at a community-wide gathering this December, where all community members will be invited to continue the conversation and help shape the future of GRACE.

Get Involved

● Attend a facilitated conversation or complete the community survey.
● Participate in the community-wide gathering.
● Share ideas, resources, or suggestions.
● Receive updates about GRACE.

We hope you will join us as we continue building Scarsdale GRACE together.

Learn more here.