Friends & Inclusion: Five Approaches to Building Relationships: Reviewed by Megan MacDonald

In the fall of 2009, I attended a workshop in Kitchener where Peggy Hutchison and daughter Karen Lord presented the content included in this book.  This was a short but very impactful workshop during which Peggy shared about the various theories/models to develop relationships and Karen shared about the specific examples of each theory/model from her life.  The theories/models covered include: one-to-one, social networks, circles, bridging, and leisure identities.  The book follows a similar format.

The Hutchison/Lord family has made friendships/relationships a key outcome in Karen’s life and as a result life decisions are influenced by this larger goal.  For example, despite enjoying her job, after a several years with no friendships growing out of this workplace, together they decided to consider a new place of employment where friendships beyond the workplace might occur.

In addition to providing numerous stories and examples, the book also highlights that developing and establishing meaningful relationships is not without challenges.  Including the challenge Karen had in learning the reciprocal nature of friendship.

The book is easy to read and very short; I read the entire book on a flight back and forth to Ottawa.  One critique I might have is that while the book provides great examples from Karen’s life, many people supported by Christian Horizons face additional challenges to connecting with people, such as non-verbal communication methods.  Karen might be considered someone for whom it is relatively “easy” to form relationships with others.  

Available through Inclusion Press http://www.inclusion.com/ for approximately $20.00

Impactful quotes include” it is essential that someone be a champion for relationship building” (pg. 21) and “once people are included in community spaces and organizations, opportunities may arise for friendships to develop.” (pg. 54)