Initiatives of Change - Alice Cardel

Alice Cardel welcomes you at the door to her tidy apartment in New York City. The meter of her phrases keeps time with the traditional Brazilian rhythms resonating through the room. As the scent of Phillipino food drifts through the air, Alice excuses herself courteously, returns to the kitchen, and tends to the simmering food. You notice a variety of guests in the room. One invites you into conversation, as Alice glides in with a hot plate of appetizers.

When Alice Cardel held her first dinner party several years ago, her efforts quickly earned praise. As an alternative to the noisy, expensive and uptight atmosphere of the New York restaurant scene, Alice decided to create a casual environment for friends and acquaintances. She invited all types of people to join together for meals on Friday in her student apartment. Each event promised home-cooked meals and engaging conversations.

Working with Initiatives of Change for over 3 decades and across 4 continents, Alice has developed a love for diverse social interaction. She strongly encourages other people to host their own dinner parties and says that the Open Homes, Listening Hearts weekend is a great way to start. Although she realizes that it can be uncomfortable at first, she believes such efforts are important for personal and social growth. “Bringing a person into your home makes you vulnerable to them. You will never be the same after they walk in your door. That risk is a challenge to grow.”

“In a world with an increasing dependence on and interaction through technology, the dinner party is like a computer program you run through in its entirety. You start the program and see what happens. You can’t delete and re-type in real conversation. In that way, we have to learn to balance our culture between technology and humanity. As we offer open homes and engage in open conversations, we are the architects of the healthy community we seek.”