Community Sundays
Community Sundays are one of the ways we intentionally build community on the RISS campus. While residents come to RISS for housing, employment opportunities, education, and stability, we also recognize that healthy communities are built through shared experiences, meaningful relationships, recreation, and participation in life beyond work and daily responsibilities.
Every Sunday is designed to provide opportunities for residents, staff, and volunteers to spend time together in a relaxed and welcoming environment. These gatherings are not intended to be highly structured programs or formal classes. Instead, they are opportunities to build friendships, strengthen community bonds, explore new experiences, and create positive memories.
Community Sundays generally follow a simple rhythm:
Community Brunch
Following typical Sunday morning church hours, residents, staff, volunteers, and guests are invited to gather for a community brunch. These meals provide an opportunity for conversation, relationship-building, and a slower pace than the normal workweek.
Self-Enrichment Opportunities
Most Community Sundays include a short self-enrichment activity. These sessions are not focused on employment, compliance, or mandatory coursework. Instead, they are intended to encourage curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Activities may include:
Arts and crafts
Origami
Kite making
Music appreciation
Creative writing
Gardening topics
Hobby demonstrations
Guest presentations
Cultural discussions
Other educational and recreational experiences
Community Activity
The remainder of the afternoon is typically dedicated to a community activity. Some activities take place on campus, while others involve organized trips throughout the Austin area.
Activities are intentionally varied so that residents are exposed to a wide range of recreational, cultural, educational, and social experiences.
Volunteer Participation
Community Sundays are designed as shared experiences. Volunteers are encouraged to participate alongside residents rather than serving exclusively in support roles. We believe some of the most meaningful conversations and relationships develop naturally through shared activities and common experiences.
Participation Expectations
Residents are expected to participate in Community Sunday activities at least twice each month whenever work schedules and other responsibilities allow. Because employment schedules vary, residents are not expected to attend every event. However, active participation in campus life is an important part of building a healthy and supportive community.
The purpose of this expectation is not simply attendance. It is to encourage residents to remain engaged with the broader community, develop healthy social habits, and take responsibility for planning and managing their schedules.
Building Community Through Shared Experience
At its core, Community Sundays exist for a simple reason:
Life is about more than work.
Whether sharing a meal, attending a museum, flying kites in a park, bowling with friends, exploring Austin, or simply spending time together on campus, these experiences help create the sense of belonging and connection that healthy communities require.
Community Sundays provide opportunities for residents to engage with one another, connect with volunteers, explore the community around them, and experience the simple joy of participating in everyday life.
To view examples of Community Sunday activities, visit our Community Sunday Activities page.
If you believe reintegration should be built intentionally, not reactively, we invite you to explore how you can help bring the RISS model to life.
