"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world," wrote anthropologist Margaret Mead, adding, "Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." This famous quote is both overused and under-realized. While it frequently appears printed boldly in the meeting places of the well-meaning, the efforts of such aspiring activists are often doomed to travel the road paved only by good intentions. For those looking to turn ideas into action, however, a look at the Brighton Table Tennis Club (BTTC) in southern England would prove most instructive. Over the years, the club has grown from a small group of racket sport enthusiasts to an internationally recognized hub of community activism and social justice. Their accomplishments are too numerous to list here, but BTTC co-founder Tim Holtham gives one example which hints at the diversity of communities reached by the club. "Every Tuesday, after school, we have a session where unaccompanied refugee minors from Afghanistan and Sudan, and coaches that have Down's Syndrome, run a session for Irish Traveler kids." Suffice it to say, everyone is welcome at the BTTC. Echoing Margaret Mead's observation, a quote from Helen Keller on the club wall reads, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." The BTTC truly embodies this sentiment, not only as a guiding principle but a call to action. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the social hub that is the club has been closed since March 17. In order to maintain the many bonds it has created, they have formed online discussion groups. Over time, these have evolved into daily variety shows, providing much-needed structure and positive interaction during the lockdown. In addition to its ground-breaking social outreach programs, the BTTC is now sharing some key points it has learned in an online seminar entitled, "Building a Grassroots Community." Presented in hour-long modular online sessions, the course offers tips to any organization wishing to make a difference in its community. The first five modules are as follows, with more to come: "Breaking the Mould: innovative ways of working," "Being Outward Facing: building referral networks," "Rapport, Relationships, Reflection and Retention," "What does Integration mean?" and "The BTTC Axes of Grassroots and Performance." Early reviews are glowingly positive. "Totally loved the course." said Sam Byford-Winter of Nam Yang Martial Arts. "Engaging, inspiring, humbling and lots of fun. So great to meet other grassroots organisations with community at the forefront of their plans." BTTC's Tim Holtham also offers this advice: "Find what you're passionate about, start small, share that idea and share that passion with people that can help you, and then just don't stop. Just keep going." There seems little doubt that the Brighton Table Tennis Club will just keep going, driven by a vision of a strong, diverse, inclusive community where everyone is welcome at the table.

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